Edward Abbey
Edward Abbey
Edward Paul Abbeywas an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth29 January 1927
CountryUnited States of America
passion beer men
John Updike: our greatest suburban chic-boutique man of letters. A smug and fatal complacency has stunted his growth beyond hope of surgical repair. Not enough passion in his collected works to generate steam in a beer can. Nevertheless, he is considered by some critics to be America's finest *living* author: Hold a chilled mirror to his lips and you will see, presently, a fine and dewy moisture condensing -- like a faery breath! -- upon the glass.
independent honor doe
It is an author's most solemn obligation to honor truth. If the free and independent writer does not speak truth to power, who will?
art enemy looks
There is a fine art to making enemies and it requires diligent cultivation. It's not as easy as it looks.
museums world-literature pay
Most of what we call the classics of world literature suggest artifacts in a wax museum. We have to hire and pay professors to get them read and talked about.
lying book writing
In order to write a book, it is necessary to sit down (or stand up) and write. Therein lies the difficulty.
art great-art art-is
Great art is indefinable but that's all right; it exists anyway.
moving agreement voice
Why the critics, like a flock of ducks, always move in perfect unison: Their authority with the public depends upon an appearance of unanimous agreement. One dissenting voice would shatter the whole fragile structure.
answers tasks insolent
It is not the writer's task to answer questions but to question answers. To be impertinent, insolent, and, if necessary, subversive.
roots evil and-love
Money confers the power to command the labor of others. Love of money is love of power. And love of power is the root of evil.
art soul body
In art as in life, form and subject, body and soul, are one.
humans
Humans were free before the word freedom became necessary.
dog tick critics
Critics are like ticks on a dog or tits on a motor: ornamental but dysfunctional.
fungi critics oaks
A critic is to an author as a fungus to an oak.
running book east
The response to my books from my East Coast friends has been wildly various, running the gamut from 'bad' to 'very bad.' (Is there another gamut?)