Young Men and Fire (Norman Maclean)

An exploration of man and nature, with emphasis on the former, and of life and death.

The written version of this review can be found here:

https://theworthyhouse.com/2022/01/11/young-men-and-fire-norman-maclean/

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This and all Worthy House narrations are offered with accurate closed captions (not auto-generated).

"Not long ago, as I wrote, I was listening to a playlist on Spotify (I listen to music when I write, but never when I read). It was Spotify’s weekly list of suggested songs based on listening history—for me, a mix of genres, heavy on thumping EDM (electronic dance music), my preferred writing music, but also indie folk. One song caught my attention—“Cold Missouri Waters,” a haunting song about thirteen smokejumpers dying while fighting a forest fire. I was interested enough to look up the song, and found it relates a true story, equally haunting—the Mann Gulch Fire, in 1949. And from there I found this classic work, now thirty years old." . . . .