The Best of Edward Abbey [Paperback]

Edward Abbey (Editor), Doug Peacock (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

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.”
Devoted Abbey fans along with readers just discovering his work will find a mother lode of treasures here: generous chunks of his best novels, including The Brave Cowboy, Black Sun, and his classic The Monkey Wrench Gang; and more than a score of his evocative, passionate, trenchant essays—a genre in which he produced acknowledged masterpieces such as Desert Solitaire. Scattered throughout are the author’s own petroglyph-style sketches.
This new edition adds selections from work that appeared shortly before Abbey’s death: a chapter from Hayduke Lives!, the hilarious sequel to The Monkey Wrench Gang; 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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"The original fly in the ointment."--Thomas McGuane

"He had about him an authenticity that springs from the page and is beloved by a rising generation of readers."--Edward Hoagland

About the Author

Edward Abbey is the author of eleven acclaimed works, including The Monkey Wrench Gang and Desert Solitaire. His The Brave Cowboy was made into the celebrated film Lonely Are the Brave. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 458 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books; 2nd edition (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578051215
• ISBN-13: 978-1578051212
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #633,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Abbey was born in Home, Pennsylvania, in 1927. He was educated at the University of New Mexico and the University of Edinburgh. He died at his home in Oracle, Arizona, in 1989.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Protrayal, June 2, 2000

By 

Michael J. Nevin - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Edward Abbey (Paperback)

An outstanding portrayal of what it means to be on foot in the middle of the harsh desert wilderness. Of the balance between beauty and the harsh reality of an environment where every animal (from stealthy mountain lions to invisible bugs) every plant (from majestic saguaros to innocent weeds) and even the land itself (from river-bottom quick sand to valley fever lurking in the dust) is at any moment ready to strike, sting, bite, scratch, poke, infect or crumble away beneath your feet without warning.

Humbling. Awe-inspiring. Solid environmental consciousness hard to argue against. And written in a voice that recollects Hunter S. Thompson in its appreciation of the beauty in the weirdness of it all. Having grown up in Arizona, and exploring these same lands, Abbey accurately represents what it feels like to be there. And pithy profundities abound for the deeper meaning of it all.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great sampling, but not much more than that., October 26, 2007

By 

Mark Says (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Edward Abbey (Paperback)

If you're a fan of Edward Abbey, it wouldn't hurt to check out this book but you may as well just get the books that it takes samples from: Jonathan Troy, The Brave Cowboy, Fire on the Mountain, Desert Solitaire, Appalachian Wilderness, Black Sun, The Monkey Wrench Gang, The Journey Home, Abbey's Road, Good News, Down the River, Beyond the Wall: Essays from the Outside, The Fool's Progress: An Honest Novel, Hayduke Lives!, Earth Apples: The Poetry of Edward Abbey, and Confessions of a Barbarian. Many of the samplings seem out of place when they are taken out of the context of their stories, but there are others that were written to be read individually such as the chapters from Desert Solitaire. Plenty of great writing, but I can't really recommend this book to anyone who either isn't an obsessed fan or someone who just wants a condensed way to see if Edward Abbey is an author who they might want to read more of. I think that if you are one of the latter, you would do better to pick up a copy of Desert Solitaire or the Monkey Wrench Gang instead.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New to Edward Abbey, February 7, 2009

By 

Kirk W. Leichner (Still wandering) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Edward Abbey (Paperback)

If you have been pondering whether you should read Ed Abbey or not, than this is the book for you. Abbey is an author who had been in the back of my mind for years, but I had never made the effort to read any of his works. I recieved this book as a gift and let it sit on the shelf for about two years.

I waited too long. What a great read. Bits and pieces of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and personel thoughts, the Best of is a book that was put together by Abbey himself of snipets he thought any general reader could enjoy. His writing style, his topics, and his genuine enjoyment of what he does makes this a fine read. I went out and bought a number of his books upon finishing this book and have been very pleased with The Monkeywrench Gang, Hayduke Lives, Fire on the Mountain, The Fool's Progress, Down the River, etc. etc.

Anyone who treasures our outdoors, our rivers, our mountains, and a sarcastic take on the system should pick this book up. I'm looking forward to plenty more Edward Abbey. If you have been waiting to get into Abbey, I highly reccomend it and this book is a great place to start.