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Biography & Autobiography.
Nature.
Nonfiction.
When Desert Solitaire was first published in 1968, it became the focus of a nationwide cult. Rude and sensitive. Thought-provoking and mystical. Angry and loving. Both Abbey and this book are all of these and more. Here, the legendary author of The Monkey Wrench Gang, Abbey's Road, and many other critically acclaimed books vividly captures the essence of his life during three seasons as a park ranger in southeastern Utah. This is a rare view of a quest to experience nature in its purest form-the silence, the struggle, the overwhelming beauty. But this is also the gripping, anguished cry of a man of character who challenges the growing exploitation of the wilderness by oil and mining interests, as well as by the tourist industry.Abbey's observations and challenges remain as relevant now as the day he wrote them. Today, Desert Solitaire asks if any of our incalculable natural treasures can be saved before the bulldozers strike again.… (more)
I loved his description of Utah and his reflections on people, in particular the phrase "loveliness not loneliness". What turned me off were his rants on a variety of topics, some of which bordered on cruelty. ( )
I read this because it was mentioned in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. It didn't rattle me the way Pilgrim did, and it's rife with Abbey's racism, sexism, and apathy toward people who use wheelchairs. But he sparked a new reverence for the desert in me, which made it a worthwhile read after all. ( )
Passionate, though frequently irreverent, Abbey presents a thought-provoking, philosophical soliloquy of his love for the American Southwest desert. While I both liked and disliked this book, I am glad I read it. It is good to be presented ideas that challenge the normal way of thinking, though I might not always like or accept them. ( )
I’ve heard of Edward Abbey, and am aware of The Monkeywrench Gang, but had read none of his work. Desert Solitaire takes place near Moab, Utah in the Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much time there in the last few years, but this book sang to me. It’s like a lumberjack reciting poetry. Abbey’s incredible description and wry sense of humor read like a best seller today, rather than a book published in 1968. Highly recommend. ( )
Information from the French Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
Pb CK : Date de première publication 1968 (1e édition originale américaine) 1992 (1e traduction par André le Bihan et édition française, Le grand dehors, Hoëbecke) 1998 (Réédition française, Petite bibliothèque, Payot) 2006 (Réédition française, Petite bibliothèque, Payot) 2010-10-07 (Nouvelle traduction par Jacques Mailhos et édition française, Nature writing, Gallmeister) 2018-08-23 (Réédition française, Totem, Gallmeister)
Biography & Autobiography.
Nature.
Nonfiction.
When Desert Solitaire was first published in 1968, it became the focus of a nationwide cult. Rude and sensitive. Thought-provoking and mystical. Angry and loving. Both Abbey and this book are all of these and more. Here, the legendary author of The Monkey Wrench Gang, Abbey's Road, and many other critically acclaimed books vividly captures the essence of his life during three seasons as a park ranger in southeastern Utah. This is a rare view of a quest to experience nature in its purest form-the silence, the struggle, the overwhelming beauty. But this is also the gripping, anguished cry of a man of character who challenges the growing exploitation of the wilderness by oil and mining interests, as well as by the tourist industry.Abbey's observations and challenges remain as relevant now as the day he wrote them. Today, Desert Solitaire asks if any of our incalculable natural treasures can be saved before the bulldozers strike again.
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Haiku summary
Abbey tells, his way. Desert, lifeforms, water, rock. Opinions, of course!
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Wikipedia in English (4)
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