

Historian Megan Kate Nelson Shares Her Favorite Books of History (and more)
May 12, 2022
Megan Kate Nelson, a historian of the American Civil War and U.S. West, shares insights from her acclaimed works, including her Pulitzer finalist book, The Three-Cornered War. She discusses how childhood reading shaped her storytelling and the influence of immersive fiction on her historical writing. Megan explores the adventure narratives in her new book, Saving Yellowstone, reflecting on the significance of landscapes and maps in history. She recommends foundational texts like William Cronon's essay on wilderness and reveals her favorite books for a desert island.
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Childhood Book That Sparked Immersion
- Megan Kate Nelson recalls a lavishly illustrated German fairy tales book she reread obsessively as a child.
- The illustrated stories and child protagonists created an immersive reading experience that hooked her on books.
Research Feels Like Immersive Storytelling
- Nelson compares archival research to immersive reading, describing how folders pull you into past lives and relationships.
- She aims to write narrative history that places readers 'on the ground' with historical people in three dimensions.
Road Trips Shaped Her Historical Focus
- Nelson links her love of journey stories and family road trips to writing landscapes and movement in her books.
- She contributed to the map in Saving Yellowstone and enjoyed tracing Hayden's route geographically.