George Masa: A Life Reimagined, 2024

Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel

From a Cornell University librarian and a documentary filmmaker comes the first comprehensive biography of the visionary Japanese photographer George Masa.

Friendly and likeable yet quiet and retiring, George Masa made a dramatic impact within his adopted Southern Appalachian community and far beyond until his death in 1933. Paul Bonesteel’s 2002 film The Mystery of George Masa rekindled interest in the photographer. Then, in 2019, a chapter of Janet McCue’s Back of Beyond: A Horace Kephart Biography with George Ellison explored Masa’s unique friendship and powerful collaboration with Kephart in words and images. Now, after conducting groundbreaking research in the US and Japan, McCue and Bonesteel tell the fascinating story of an immigrant who endured scrutiny from the Bureau of Investigation, harassment from the Ku Klux Klan, and the collapse of the economy, his business, and his health—all while making it his life’s goal to champion conservation in Southern Appalachia.

Available in print and as an ebook.

Preview the book here

  • "Through a remarkable achievement in biographical research, Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel have filled in the gaps and finally give this hero of the national park idea his due."

    - Ken Burns and Duncan Dayton, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

  • “…a painstakingly meticulous study of a captivating subject and of the time in American history…”

    - Kirkus Reviews

  • “... a touchstone for understanding the deep complexities of race, culture, society, and landscape in America during a period of deep national and political unrest.”

    - Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, author of Even as We Breathe

  • “Thanks to the extraordinary research and writing of Janet McCue and Paul Bonesteel, the mysterious early life of George Masa will be better understood. This biography is a timely salute to his timeless achievement.”

    - Robert Morgan, author of Boone: A Biography

  • "Deeply researched, intimately written, this book uncovers the complex life of a Japanese man who…dedicated his life to capturing the beauty of the Great Smokies and the Appalachian Trail."

    - Kazuhiro Oharezeki, associate professor, Seinan Gakuin University

  • "Masa moved easily in the circle of millionaires, county clubs, and fancy hotels…but he also knew intimately another world of racism, prejudice, and the extreme poverty of the Depression."

    - Mae Miller Claxton, professor of English, Western Carolina University, and co-editor of Horace Kephart: Writings

  • "…a fascinating read and a priceless contribution to the history of the Smokies."

    - Philip D’anieri, author of The Appalachian Trail: A Biography

  • "It reminds us…of the value of immigrants in bringing fresh vision, skills, and experiences to our familiar American landscape."

    - Daniel McKee, professor of Asian Studies at Cornell University

  • "A stunning biography of George Masa that chronicles the rise of a mysterious Japanese photographer to a place in the pantheon of iconic figures in the history of the Great Smoky Mountains."

    - Ken Wise, author of Hiking Trails in the Great Smoky Mountains

  • "Sparked by the find of a trove of letters written by the enigmatic mountaineer and photographer…the authors tell a story of adventure and misadventure, triumph, and tragedy, on an intensely personal level."

    - Judy Russell, genealogist and photographer

  • "It’s a classic tale of an immigrant to America…but with surprising complexities. … It is a story that will hold you until the end."

    - Rose Houk, author of Pictures for a Park: How Photographers Helped Save the Great Smoky Mountains

About the authors

Janet McCue is a writer, researcher, and avid hiker. Learn more about Janet here.

Paul Bonesteel is a filmmaker, writer, and passionate lover of the outdoors. Bonesteel’s first experience in the Smokies was a 1972 hike up Mount Le Conte when he was seven years old. His filmmaking, research, and writing have informed the conversation and celebration of George Masa since his making The Mystery of George Masa film in 2002. Other award-winning films include The Great American Quilt Revival, The Day Carl Sandburg Died, America’s First Forest: Carl Schenck and the Asheville Experiment, Muni, and the four-part Shadow of a Wheel. He grew up hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring the mountains around Hendersonville, North Carolina, and has lived in Asheville for 25 years with his wife, Wyndy, and two sons, Jonah and Luke.

Watch the trailer for Paul Bonesteel’s new film, A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story here.