Alaska, An American Colony
Just how important is Alaska to the rest of the United States,  and what does it offer in the way of tangible assets? Was its  purchase truly "Seward's Folly"? Haycox (history, Univ. of  Alaska, Anchorage; Frigid Embrace: Politics, Economics, and  Environment in Alaska) offers far from the usual look at  Alaska's natural beauty; in fact, he hardly mentions it.  Instead, he focuses on the remarkable political activity that  has shaped this vast land, beginning with Russian explorations,  continuing through with Spanish, French, and British intentions  to establish colonies to oppose Russian expansion, and  culminating with the purchase of Alaska during the Lincoln  Presidency. Haycox's research is thorough and at times a bit  deep to wade through, but he eventually emerges with a cultural,  poitical, and economic history of a land that is still largely  unexplored, misunderstood, and often haphazardly managed. The  author also explores in less detail the anthropology of Alaska's  Native peoples and the region's geography. Essential for all  Alaskan and Pacific Coast libraries, this book should also be  considered as a primary source for college and large public  libraries. Joseph L. Carlson, Allan Hancock Community Coll., CACopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.