1. Moby Dick by Herman Melville – Set primarily on the open ocean, Moby Dick is one of those novels that could only be set at sea. It’s a story about obsession; Captain Ahab’s never-ending pursuit of the white whale becomes his undoing. Nature serves as both an enemy and a source of comfort here – while on land Ahab feels out of place and isolated, it’s on the open sea where he finds peace and escape.
2. Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson – This novel is about two young girls who have just been abandoned by their mother and are taken in by their aunt. The beauty of nature serves as a backdrop to this story of loss and renewal. Nature helps the girls find healing and solace from their struggles; the lake even becomes an almost spiritual presence in their lives.
3. Beloved by Toni Morrison – Set in rural Ohio after slavery has ended, Beloved tells the story of a former slave woman trying to make a life for herself and her family despite all odds being against her. With every chapter, nature becomes more oppressive – from menacing storms to relentless heat, and even to the ever-present threat of wild animals. Nature serves as both a prison and an escape from the characters’ painful pasts.
4. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – This classic tells the story of a family who are forced to migrate after losing their farm during the Dust Bowl era in Oklahoma. As they make their way westward, nature increasingly becomes an obstacle for them – but its beauty is also something they take with them on their journey as well.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Set in a small town in Alabama, this novel examines racism, injustice, and courage through the eyes of a young girl named Scout Finch. Nature acts almost as a character here, with its lush forests and beautiful birds providing contrast to the intolerance and violence found in the town.

These five novels are just some examples of how American authors have used nature to great effect in their stories. Whether it serves as a backdrop or an integral part of the plot, these works demonstrate how powerful nature can be when writing literature.

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page