by Helen Frost
First published 1990
Helen Frost gathers voices from writers and poets who witnessed the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez disaster. In March 1989, the tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, releasing eleven million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's pristine waters. The collection captures how artists processed this environmental catastrophe through their work. Contributors examine the ecological devastation that followed the spill, documenting damaged coastlines, oil-covered wildlife, and disrupted communities. Frost provides editorial framework and an introduction that contextualizes these creative responses. The writings explore both immediate destruction and longer-term consequences as Alaska's ecosystem struggled to recover. Each piece reflects on humanity's relationship with nature and the cost of industrial accidents in remote wilderness areas.
Genres: environment, non-fiction, 21st-century, activism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: documentary, nature-writing
Setting: Alaska, Prince William Sound
Period: 1989
130 pages · Paperback · Breitenbush