{"product_id":"the-best-of-edward-abbey-9781578051212","title":"The Best of Edward Abbey","description":"This is the only major collection of Abbey's writings compiled by the author himself: in his own words, \"to present what I think is both the best and most representative of my writing--so far.\" It serves up a rich feast of fiction and prose by the singular American writer whom Larry McMurtry called \"the Thoreau of the American West.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDevoted Abbey fans along with readers just discovering his work will find a mother lode of treasures here: generous chunks of his best novels, including \u003ci\u003eThe Brave Cowboy, Black Sun\u003c\/i\u003e, and his classic \u003ci\u003eThe Monkey Wrench Gang\u003c\/i\u003e; and more than a score of his evocative, passionate, trenchant essays--a genre in which he produced acknowledged masterpieces such as \u003ci\u003eDesert Solitaire\u003c\/i\u003e. Scattered throughout are the author's own petroglyph-style sketches. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis new edition adds selections from work that appeared shortly before Abbey's death: a chapter from \u003ci\u003eHayduke Lives!\u003c\/i\u003e, the hilarious sequel to \u003ci\u003eThe Monkey Wrench Gang\u003c\/i\u003e; excerpts from his revealing journals; and examples of his poetry. A new foreword by Doug Peacock--Abbey's close friend and the model for the flamboyant activist Hayduke--offers a fond appreciation of this larger-than-life figure in American letters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdward Abbey\u003c\/b\u003e was born in the town of Indiana, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1927. He grew up around the nearby village of Home, which now has a state historical marker commemorating Abbey. After a brief military career 1945-1947 in Naples, Italy he attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1944 at age 17 he left the family farm in Home and set off to see the American West. He hitchhiked and rode the rails--across the Midwest to the Rockies and the West Coast, returning by way of the Southwest. He fell in love with the desert, a love that shaped his life and art for more than 40 years. For 15 years and well into his forties, he worked as a part-time ranger and fire lookout at several different national parks, his two seasons as a ranger at Arches National Monument (later a national park) in Utah providing the inspiration and raw material for \u003ci\u003eDesert Solitaire\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1987, Edward Abbey was offered a major award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Abbey declined the honor. He died in 1989.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Counterpoint LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50616648139026,"sku":"9781578051212","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2ee26f65-57ce-4a66-90c0-6ae33f40838b.jpg?v=1732506523","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-best-of-edward-abbey-9781578051212","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}