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