L.L. Bean's story is also America's story. The ideas and events that
drove the company's development are all related to what was happening in
the wider world. From the rugged, individualistic legacy of Teddy
Roosevelt in the 1910s to soldiers' experiences in both World Wars, from
the "back to the land" movement in the 1960s and 1970s that brought
millions of people to the wilderness for the first time to the Preppy
Handbook craze of the 1980s when the styles of New England suddenly
enthralled the nation, Guaranteed to Last tells a complete and
fascinating story that will engage every reader.
At the heart of the book is a fresh telling of the fascinating L.L. Bean
story--the tale of how an unknown hunter, working with $400 in borrowed
capital, invented a new kind of shoe and, marching to the beat of his
own drum, remade the outdoor industry. And it's a story about how the
company helped America learn to love the outdoors. A brisk narrative
based on fresh interviews and research by Jim Gorman, a leading travel
and adventure journalist, traces the most important incidents in the
company's history, as well as the defining products and the most
memorable people.
The book will feature scores of photographs, illustrations, and pieces
of ephemera, including fascinating images of L.L. Bean hunting in Maine
in the 1910s; the earliest mailers and catalogs that defined the look
and voice of the company; personal correspondence to L.L. Bean from
every era; snapshots of ordinary Americans outfitted in their L.L. Bean
gear; and much more. It is both a celebration of 100 years of L.L. Bean,
and a look at the essential qualities of the brand that will guide its
next century.
