This September, the University of Minnesota Press plans to publish the first-ever biography of longtime environmental activist and beloved nature writer Sigurd F. Olson (1899-1982), entitled A Wilderness Within, by David Backes. Backes, associate professor at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, the author of Can Country: An Embattled Wilderness (NorthWord Press, 1991) and The Wilderness Companion (NorthWord, 1992), had complete access to Olson's papers, diaries, correspondence and photographs -- all of which had been sealed for more than 20 years.
But perhaps best of all, in conjunction with the biography, the press plans to publish the entire Olson backlist, none of which has appeared in paperback before. According to Backes, Olson did not want his books to be published in paperback: "Sig was from the old school, and thought that paperbacks showed disrespect for the work." However, with declining sales of the hardcover threatening the longevity of the literary legend, Olson's family conceded, and Knopf licensed the paperback rights to the University of Minnesota Press. Knopf will continue to print The Singing Wilderness and Reflections from the North Country in hardcover.
The Singing Wilderness, the first and perhaps most famous Olson title, was first published by Knopf in 1956. The story of its publication is reflective of Olson's early writing career: for more than 20 years, agents and editors told Olson there was no market for his essays. Convinced they were wrong, Olson sent his works to Marie Rodell, the widely respected New York agent who helped to publicize the works of Rachel Carson and Durwood Allen. Rodell liked the manuscript, and sent it out. After three rejections (Olson liked to say there were 10), Rodell's hope began to wane. Meanwhile, Olson was speaking at a conference in New York on the fight to save the proposed Echo Park Dam in Dinosaur National Monument -- attended by Alfred Knopf.
Impressed by Olson's speech, Knopf wrote to Olson: "I am wondering if you are not going to have a book for us one of these days?" Olson sent the letter on to Rodell, writing, "Perhaps Alfred Knopf will in a moment of weakness decide to take a gambling chance." Two weeks after its publication, The Singing Wilderness hit the New York Times bestseller list, selling more than 70,000 copies in its hardcover history.
In 1987, Knopf licensed a collection of essays -- chosen by Olson himself -- to Penguin. Songs of the North is a collection of essays taken from six books and, until now, was the only paperback available of Olson's essays. This book, because it is a compilation, d s not interfere with the University of Minnesota Press contract.
The Singing Wilderness, Listening Point, The Lonely Land and Runes of the North will be published in August, and Open Horizons, Wilderness Days (both out of print for years), Reflections from the North Country and Of Time and Place are due out August 1998. Following the success of the hardcovers (the eight books have sold more than 300,000 copies combined), the press plans what is for it substantial first printings of 10,000 each for the bio and the complete backlist. Along with new book covers (there has not been a new cover on any of the books since 1956), there will be Sigurd Olson Day celebrations across the country, featuring readings of Olson's works by local nature writers.
