The Last Canyon

Both gritty and sublime (Seattle Times) The Last Canyon tells the story of John Wesley Powells 1869 voyage of exploration through the Grand Canyon the last great expedition of discovery in United States history. In this vivid novel John Vernon intertwines two stories that of Powell and his crew and that of a band of Paiute Indians known as the Shivwits who lived on the north rim of the canyon. As the novel moves inexorably toward a violent encounter between the two groups Vernon deftly leads us into perilous geographical and emotional territory. Powells adventure is a story of triumph hardship bravery and ultimate loss.