A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

Infobox Book
name = A Walk in the Woods


image_caption = Front cover of the American paperback edition.
author = Bill Bryson
illustrator = David Cook
country = United States
language = English
series =
subject = Bill Bryson, Stephen Katz
publisher = HarperCollins Publishers
pub_date = 4 May, 1998
media_type = Hardcover
pages = 274 pp (first edition)
isbn = 0-7679-0251-3

"A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail" is a 1998 book by travel writer Bill Bryson, describing his attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. The book is written in a humorous style, interspersed with more serious discussions of matters relating to the trail's history, and the surrounding sociology, ecology, trees, plants and animals.

The book is to be adapted into a movie, to star Robert Redford and, most likely, to be directed by Barry Levinson.

Plot

Bryson and Katz start hiking the trail from the state of Georgia in the south, and stumble in the beginning with the difficulties of getting used to their equipment; Bryson also soon realizes how difficult it is to travel with his friend, who is a crude, overweight recovering alcoholic, and even less prepared for the ordeal than he is. Overburdened, they soon discard much extra food and equipment to lighten their loads.

After hiking for what seemed to him a large distance, they realize they have still barely begun while in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and that the whole endeavor is simply too much for them. They skip a huge section of the trail, beginning again in Roanoke, Virginia. The book recounts Bryson's desire to seek easier terrain as well as "a powerful urge not to be this far south any longer." This section of the hike finally ends (after nearly 500 miles of hiking) with Bryson going on a book tour and Katz returning to Des Moines to work.

In the following months Bryson continues to hike several smaller parts of the trail, including a visit to Centralia, an environmentally poisoned mining town in Pennsylvania, and eventually reunites with Katz to hike the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Maine, which again proves too daunting. The fact that Bryson did not complete the trail is not surprising since fewer than 25% of thru-hike attempts are successful; he quotes the older figure of 10%.

Reception

The book created some controversy in Appalachian Trail hiking circles, as some experienced hikers have criticized it for inaccuracies and embellishments.Fact|date=March 2008 Amongst the main accusations are Bryson's tendency to characterize his subjects, such as other hikers he meets, as ridiculous (albeit amusing) caricatures. Others would argue that Bryson's literary methods, much in the same style as Mark Twain's, are the valid tools of an entertaining travel writer, and there is little doubt that the book has attracted many new hikers to the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy attributes the dramatic spike in thru-hike attempts in the late 1990s mainly to the influence of the book,Fact|date=March 2008 although Bryson noted at the time that the numbers were rising. Years later, in his book "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid", Bryson notes sarcastically that Katz describes "A Walk in the Woods" as "mostly fiction." [ [http://www.scribd.com/doc/2059205/Bill-Bryson-The-Life-and-Times-of-the-Thunderbolt-Kid The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid] pp. 199. Retrieved on 03-07-08.]

Film adaption

In 2005, Robert Redford announced, [ [http://www.timeout.com/film/news/394.html Newman and Redford plan new project] Published on 05-03-08. Retrieved on 03-07-08.] and later confirmed, [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i29ce7ca58f3334d03925a8c353efdcaf Redford Doing Adaptation of 'Walk in the Woods'] The Hollywood Reporter. Published on 01-29-08. Retrieved on 03-07-08.] that he would star in and produce an adaptation of Bryson's book into a film, and that he would play Bryson himself. He also hoped that his erstwhile co-star and friend, Paul Newman, would team up with him to play the role of Katz, although he jokingly expressed doubt as to whether the health-conscious Newman would consider putting on enough weight to accurately portray the rotund Katz. (Newman, however, retired from acting in May 2007 and died in 2008.)

In February 2007, Chris Columbus, director of "Home Alone" and the first two "Harry Potter" films, was reported to have agreed to direct the adaptation. [ [http://www.moviehole.net/news/20070208_columbus_to_direct_newmanredfo.html Columbus to direct Newman/Redford film] Published on 08-02-07. Retrieved on 03-07-08.] However, in January 2008, the Hollywood Reporter, while noting that the script was delayed due to the Hollywood writers' stike, reported that Barry Levinson, the Academy Award-winning director of "Rain Man", was in talks to direct.As above.]

Redford has said of the project:lquote|It'll be fun. I don't know when I've read a book that I laughed so loud. Also, it's a chance to take a look at the country... The backdrop is pretty terrific, if you stop to think of all the visuals that are possible as they go along that trail. [ [http://www.cinematical.com/2008/01/28/robert-redford-heads-for-a-walk-in-the-woods/ Robert Redford Heads for 'A Walk in the Woods'] Cinematical.com. Published on 01-28-08. Retrieved on 03-07-08.]

Editions

* ISBN 0-7679-0251-3. Hardback. Published by Broadway, on May 4, 1998.
* ISBN 0-7679-0252-1. Paperback. Published by Broadway, on May 4, 1999.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • A Walk in the Woods Bed and Breakfast — (Southold,США) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: 9680 North Bay …   Каталог отелей

  • A Walk in the Woods (disambiguation) — A Walk in the Woods may refer to: * , a travel memoir written by author Bill Bryson * A Walk in the Woods (play) by Lee Blessing …   Wikipedia

  • A Walk in the Woods (play) — A Walk in the Woods is a 1988 play by Lee Blessing. It depicts the developing relationship between two arms limitation negotiators, one Russian and one American, over a year of negotiation. The play was nominated for both a Tony award and a… …   Wikipedia

  • Death in the Woods — 1st edition (publ. Liveright) Death in the Woods is a short story by Sherwood Anderson first published in 1924 and reprinted in 1933. Death in the Woods is a retelling of events from the narrator s childhood, as he attempts to explain a death and …   Wikipedia

  • A Watcher in the Woods — Infobox Book | name = A Watcher in the Woods title orig = translator = image caption = author = Florence Engel Randall illustrator = cover artist = country = United States language = English death = birth = series = subject = genre = Young adult… …   Wikipedia

  • Into the Woods (Desperate Housewives) — Infobox Television episode Title = Into the Woods Series = Desperate Housewives Caption = Season = 3 Episode = 21 Airdate = May 6, 2007 Production = 321 Writer = Alexandra Cunningham Director = David Grossman Guests = Episode list = List of… …   Wikipedia

  • The Bell (novel) — The Bell is a novel written by Iris Murdoch in 1958. It was her fourth to be published, and is set in Imber Court, a lay religious community situated next to an enclosed order of Benedictine nuns in Gloucestershire. [Murdoch, I. The Bell .… …   Wikipedia

  • Moments in the Woods — Episode no. Season 7 Episode 18 Directed by David Grossman Written by John Paul Bullock III Original air date April 17, 2011 …   Wikipedia

  • Strangers In The Woods — is the fourth short story in the Tales To Give You Goosebumps , written by R. L. Stine. Preceded by: Strained Peas. Followed by: Good Friends. Plot The story is about a girl named Lucy. While her parents are staying in Asia, Lucy is staying with… …   Wikipedia

  • Babes in the Woods — Les Enfants des bois Les Enfants des bois est un court métrage d animation américain, en couleur de la série des Silly Symphonies réalisé par Burton Gillett, sorti le 19 novembre 1932[1]. Le film est basé sur le conte des frères Grimm, Hansel et… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”