Land Circle: Writings Collected from the Land

Hasselstrom ( Windbreak ), who runs a cattle ranch in western South Dakota and has deep ties to the land, speaks eloquently on environmental subjects. In this collection of poems and essays she pays tribute to the people of the Great Plains and their way of life, taking issue with those who regard the area as an arid expanse fit only for waste dumps and exploitation. Writing movingly about the death of her husband and her efforts to cope with grief, she extols the virtues of hard physical work and the satisfactions of being close to the land. Using vivid images of wildlife and landscapes, the author challenges animal rights activists, praises the cow, makes a strong case for sustainability in agriculture. Environmentalists and Western buffs will particularly enjoy this collection. (Nov.)