Desert Solitaire

"A passionately felt, deeply poetic book. It has philosophy. It has humor. It has its share of nerve-tingling adventures...set down in a lean, racing prose, in a close-knit style of power and beauty."

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Edward Abbey lived for three seasons in Moab, Utah, in the desert. What he discovered about the land before him, the world around him, and the heart that beat within, is a fascinating, sometimes raucous, always personal account of a place that has already disappeared, but is worth remembering and living through again and again.

Desert Solitaire stands as a seminal work of environmental philosophy and personal narrative. Edward Abbey's unflinching examination of the American Southwest challenges conventional attitudes toward wilderness preservation while chronicling his experiences as a park ranger in Arches National Monument. Through vivid prose and provocative arguments, Abbey articulates a passionate defense of untamed landscapes against industrial encroachment. This influential text resonates with readers seeking authentic perspectives on nature, conservation, and individual freedom. A cornerstone of environmental literature, it remains essential reading for anyone invested in understanding the philosophical tensions between development and preservation in America's public lands.