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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ANECDOTE

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.

insights

INSIGHT

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.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

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.

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First Book Love and Childhood Reading Habits

01:38 • 3min

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How Reading Fantasy Shapes Historical Writing

04:28 • 3min

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Yellowstone's Opening Scene and Adventure Narratives

07:07 • 2min

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Why Landscapes and Maps Matter in History

09:20 • 3min

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Choosing Project Locations: Intentional vs. Discovered

11:54 • 2min

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Research Fieldwork: Mucking About in the Okefenokee

13:44 • 3min

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Discovering Hayden and the 1871 Expedition

16:26 • 1min

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Returning to Yellowstone After Decades

17:32 • 5min

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Favorite Park Spot: The Mud Volcano Region

22:42 • 3min

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Hayden's Peril: Falling into a Geothermal Feature

25:20 • 2min

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Influential Landscape and Park Histories

Leave Only Footprints: A Tour of All National Parks

34:39 • 2min

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A Surprise Research Find: The History of Geohistory

36:57 • 3min

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Interests Beyond History: Fiction and Longform Reading

40:10 • 43sec

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Desert-Island Book Picks and Reading Anchors

40:54 • 6min

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Inspirational Historian: Patricia Limerick's Legacy

• Mentioned in 88 episodes

Walden

Henry David Thoreau

Published in 1854, 'Walden; Or, Life in the Woods' is a series of 18 essays that reflect Thoreau's experiences living in a small cabin near Walden Pond from July 1845 to September 1847. The book is a personal declaration of independence, a social experiment, and a voyage of spiritual discovery. Thoreau details his life in the woods, discussing the construction of his cabin, his daily activities, and his philosophical reflections on economy, social relations, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. The work is considered a cornerstone of American literature and a foundational text in the Transcendentalist movement, emphasizing the benefits of a simplified lifestyle and the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance.

#5804

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Passages

predictable crises of adult life

Gail Sheehy

#55

• Mentioned in 179 episodes

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.

Leave Only Footprints

A. C. Snow

string

#141

• Mentioned in 107 episodes

The Hobbit

or There and Back Again

J.R.R Tolkien

Published in 1937, 'The Hobbit' is a children's fantasy novel that introduces readers to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth. The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving hobbit, who is persuaded by Gandalf to join Thorin and his twelve dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. During the journey, Bilbo encounters various creatures, including trolls, goblins, and the mysterious Gollum, and discovers a magical ring that renders the wearer invisible. The novel is a prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' and explores themes of personal growth, courage, and unexpected heroism.

#89

• Mentioned in 141 episodes

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

Published in 1813, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a novel that revolves around the lives of the Bennet family, particularly the second eldest daughter, Elizabeth. The story is set in the early 19th century and explores themes of love, societal expectations, and personal growth. The novel centers on Elizabeth's tumultuous relationship with the wealthy and proud Mr. Darcy, whose initial arrogance and reserve gradually give way to a deeper understanding and mutual respect. Through their interactions, both characters learn to overcome their prejudices and flaws, leading to a transformative journey of self-discovery and redemption. The novel also delves into the societal pressures on women to secure marriages, the importance of family, and the nuances of social hierarchy during the British Regency period.

#61332

Crimes Against Nature

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In 'Crimes Against Nature', Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers a scathing critique of the George W. Bush administration's environmental policies, accusing them of prioritizing corporate interests over public health and environmental protection. The book highlights the administration's efforts to dismantle environmental laws and manipulate scientific data to serve corporate agendas, particularly in the fossil fuel, beef, and lumber industries.

• Mentioned in 373 episodes

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.

#54510

The Trouble with Wilderness

William Cronin

Legacy of Conquest

Patty Nelson Limerick

Bursting the Limits of Time

Martin J. Rudwick

Saving Yellowstone

Megan Kate Nelson

The Three-Cornered War

The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West

Megan Kate Nelson

Discovering the Vernacular Landscape

J.B. Jackson

The bark of the bog owl

Jonathan Rogers

Megan Kate Nelson is an expert in the history of the American Civil War, the U.S. West, and popular culture. In fact, she’s such an expert that in 2021 she was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History for her book, The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the Wes. Her new book, out this Spring, is called Saving Yellowstone and is about the historical context in which Yellowstone was discovered, preserved, and established as a national park.

As her website puts it, it is “a narrative of adventure and exploration, Saving Yellowstone is also a story of Indigenous resistance, the expansive reach of railroad, photographic, and publishing technologies, and the struggles of Black southerners to bring racial terrorists to justice. It reveals how the early 1870s were a turning point in the nation’s history, as white Americans ultimately abandoned the higher ideal of equality for all people, creating a much more fragile and divided United States.”

Recently Megan joined Bibliography to chat about the books she loves, the challenges of writing history, and much more. So if you love books of history, national parks, and adding to your to-be-read list be sure to tap that play button.

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