The Deer Pasture [Paperback]

Rick Bass (Author), Elizabeth Hughes Bass (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 1996

Rick Bass's first collection of essays captures the clear, passionate voice of this acclaimed author at the very beginning of his career.

In The Deer Pasture, Rick Bass writes about a family tradition: each year, for more than fifty years, three generations of men in the Bass family have leased the same tract of land in the Texas hill country. More than a place to stalk the white-tail, this is a place to get together, chase armadillos, swap campfire stories, listen to quail, make biscuits, and enjoy the antics of ringtails. It's the sort of place where a man is only as good as his dog, where memories last longer, where the hunter's moon is the perfect light for chasing raccoons. Most important, it is a place to recharge the spirit and renew family ties.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rick Bass owns a durable and authentic voice . . . a young writer who can both frighten and amaze. (Jim Harrison )

About the Author

Rick Bass lives in the Yaak Valley of Montana and is the author of The Watch, Ninemile Wolves, and Winter, among other books. His most recent book of short stories is In the Loyal Mountains.

Elizabeth Hughes Bass is an illustrator whose ink and watercolor illustrations have appeared in numerous books and magazines. She lives with her husband, author Rick Bass, and their two daughters in the Yaak Valley of Montana.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (June 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393314359
• ISBN-13: 978-0393314359
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a deer hunting book, December 11, 2000

By 

Clayton O. Hall - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Deer Pasture (Hardcover)

Rick Bass is not your typical hunter, and The Deer Pasture is not your typical hunting story. An admitted "tree hugger," Bass uses his family deer lease as the setting for a narrative essay that deals with everything from hunting ethics and wildlife conservation to family values and romantic love. His observations on Texas Hill Country society (including the dogs--especially the dogs) are thorough without sounding scientific. Bass's Mark Twain-style humor serves as comic relief to the very serious issues that he tackles. This book is destined to become a Texas literary classic.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deer Camp Explained, May 18, 2000

By 

M evans (Somerville, Tx.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Deer Pasture (Paperback)

This is a great book for all deer hunters, especially those who hunt in the Texas Hill Country. Bass goes beyond the hunt to take a light-hearted look at why we go back to deer camp year after year. The essays put into words the excitement and wonder of hunting, the Hill Country and all the small things that make deer hunting so much more than just the hunting of deer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Deer Pasture highlights family, October 7, 2006

By 

Jan E. Wiedemann "JWTexas" (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Deer Pasture (Paperback)

The Deer Pasture is centered in the rustic beauty of the Texas Hill Country. Author Bass tells the story of the deer pasture and its significance as a family traditon.
A collection of 17 essays. Each essary contains a wonderful story of the Bass men and their fall deer hunt. A good read for everyone.