The big burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the fire that saved America

Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, corrupt politicians, a palouser, robber barons and a force of underpaid do-gooders are the main characters of the book, The Big Burn. Roosevelt and Pinchot fight to preserve western forests for future generations but standing in their way are the lumber robber barons who argue that felling trees are the best way to serve American progress and the railroad magnates who are conquering the western wilderness to ease trade between the east and west coasts. Swooping down upon this uneven fight between poorly equipped forest rangers and politicians rich from graft is a palouser, a storm of gale force winds, driving fire through the towns built with lumber and railroad money. The results of this clash are written on our maps. If you like a book that brings a historical footnote to relevance for current arguments between the morality of conservation versus economic progress, this book is for you.