This unusual coffetable book brings together the work of a noted photographer and bestselling novelist to create one of the most beautiful and well-written on the subject of wilderness. National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths Belt's exquisitely composed photographs are further enhanced by her technique -- shooting in infrared and then hand-tinting the images. This lends a dreamlike sensibility to the scenes, which range from intimate closeups of a bear paw to sweeping vistas. Acclaimed novelist Barbara Kingsolver describes with a poetic urgency her love of nature, which began with childhood forays into the wilds behind her house. America is home to some of the most beautiful wild areas in the world, whether coastal, forested, or mountainous. Reading Last Stand: America's Virgin Lands is a wonderful way to celebrate them.