Abbey, Edward (1927–89)

Edward Abbey was a working novelist, philosopher, lover of unfenced country, adventurer, river runner, desert rat, self-proclaimed extremist, redneck, and “agrarian anarchist.” He was a man of many philosophies, peppered with contradictions and complexities. His writings criticized government, technology, corporate greed, and the unfortunate destruction of wilderness, but he also poked fun at vegetarians, made sexist comments, littered beer cans out the window of his automobile, and was a member of the National Rifle Association. James Bishop says, “He was neither left-wing nor right-wing, nor was he an outlaw. Abbey was a genuine rebel who simply did not believe in the moderns' industrial way of life.”

In describing his life's work, Abbey notes, “I wrote once that environmental journalism isn't a very cheerful field of work. ...