Up on the River: With the People and Wildlife of the Upper Mississippi

Here is a richly drawn and vibrantly personal exploration of America’s supreme river.

“Some of my best time on the River has been in the company of game wardens, biologists, commercial fishermen, clammers, trappers, hunters, and a smelly, mud-smeared coterie of river rats in general,” wrote John Madson of his thirty-year acquaintance with the Mississippi. UP ON THE RIVER takes us into this world, with forays into the river’s fascinating history and ecology. This is a loving and sometimes uproariously funny tribute, full of unforgettable characters and creatures. Like Joseph Mitchell’s Up in the Old Hotel or William Warner’s Beautiful Swimmers, this is a classic book about a singular American place.

An experienced biologist, conservationist, and outdoorsman, John Madson traveled America from the Rockies to the Florida Everglades. His books include Where the Sky Began, which was named a New York Times “Notable Book” of 1982; Out Home; and Stories From Under the Sky. Madson died in 1995, leaving behind a rich legacy.