Journey on the James: Three Weeks Through the Heart of Virginia

By Earl Swift

Book Overview

From its beginnings as a trickle of icy water in Virginia's northwest corner to its miles-wide mouth at Hampton Roads, the James River has witnessed more recorded history than any other feature of the American landscape -- as home to the continent's first successful English settlement, highway for Native Americans and early colonists, battleground in the Revolution and the Civil War, and birthplace of America's twentieth-century navy. In 1998, restless in his job as a reporter for the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Earl Swift landed an assignment traveling the entire length of the James. He hadn't been in a canoe since his days as a Boy Scout, and he knew that the river boasts whitewater, not to mention man-made obstacles, to challenge even experienced paddlers. But reinforced by Pilot photographer Ian Martin and a lot of freeze-dried food and beer, Swift set out to immerse himself -- he hoped not literally -- in the river and its history. What Swift survived to bring us is this engrossing chronicle of three weeks in a fourteen-foot plastic canoe and four hundred years in the life of Virginia. Fueled by humor and a dauntless curiosity about the land, buildings, and people on the banks, and anchored by his sidekick Martin -- whose photographs accompany the text -- Swift points his bow through the ghosts of a frontier past, past Confederate forts and POW camps, antebellum mills, ruined canals, vanished towns, and effluent-spewing industry. Along the banks, lonely meadowlands alternate with suburbs and power plants, marinas and the gleaming skyscrapers of Richmond's New South downtown. Enduring dunkings, wolf spiders, near-arrest, channel fever, and twenty-knot winds, Swift makes it to the Chesapeake Bay. Readers who accompany him through his Journey on the James will come away with the accumulated pleasure, if not the bruises and mud, of four hundred miles of adventure and history in the life of one of America's great watersheds.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813921198
• ISBN13: 9780813921198
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: University of Virginia Press
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An excellent read

For those of us who love and canoe the James this book is an excellent companion. Apparently a few of the reviewers have been right ticked off at Earl Swift's writing style, or his mannerisms, or his choice of words, or his choice of topics, maybe they just don't like his hair style. Who knows? I think most of the negative reviews are petty, unfair and not well thought out. Overall the book does what the author set out to do, and that is entertain us with his impressions of the James River and the people who share it with us. I can't find fault with any writer who has the courage to state his or her opinions. I think it is the responsibiltiy of the reader to understand what the book is about, and if the reader doesn't like the content then send it back for a refund. Heated, almost hysterical charges against the author are pretty weak when you actually read the book and digest the message. Swift is a professional writer and treats his subject - the James River - with respect.

Canoeing and History on the James River

This book contains a good description of the James River: how it impressively flows and changes from its source to its destination. I enjoyed reading and learning from the history that is interwoven through the trip's description. As an experienced canoeist who has paddled the James many times in the greater Scottsville area, I found the author's descriptions of the places and people all along the river's length to be interesting and worthwhile. The descriptions of the expedition's logistical details such as camping, porting the canoe, finding directions, finding food, etc. seemed true to life and gave a sense of the mechanics of the trip as well as the life that has developed along the river's banks. Ian Martin is the photographer who accompanies Swift and organizes things for the expedition on the shore. Swift's description of their interactions together is often a humorous counterpoint to the descriptions of Swift alone in the canoe or the passages that are devoted to history. Read this book. It is well written and carefully researched. We need more books like this to understand and appreciate our environment and homes.

I love it!

I love the book and love Swift's writing.Can't get enough of his writing in our local paper.We learned so much about a river we never thought much about. It is a very interesting and exciting book. When my freind returns it, I'm also going to read it again. Great writing about outdoor Virginia.

Loved it.

A canoe adventure chocked with well researched history, wonderful trivia, great tight writing and subtle wit.I gave it as a gift to my outdoorsy friends but the best compliment I can give is--I'm on my second reading.I'm fortunate enough to live in Hampton Roads where Swift is journalist for the Virginian Pilot newspaper. He's surely one of--if not "the"--finest writers in Virginia!

This book is an excellent and informative read.

I'm Ian Martin, the photographer who accompanied Earl Swift on the three week trip which he so vividly depicts in his book Journey On The James. Swift asked me to read a draft of his book for the express purpose of ferreting out details from our trip that might conflict with my recollections. I found none. This came as no surprise to me as I have years of experience working with him and have always found him to be painstakingly thorough when it comes to the facts. History buffs who have read this book will agree. The book is highly educational and greatly entertaining. Indeed, it was praised in publications such as The Washington Post and The Richmond Times-Dispatch not to mention newspapers in Roanoke, Lexington and Newport News. Giving this book a low rating is entirely unfair. Not only to Swift, but to those who might pass up an enjoyable and informative read because of the oddly vitriolic comments of one person.