Writer-environmentalist Peter Matthiessen dies at 86

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Matthiessen, a rich man's son who spurned a life of ease in favor of physical and spiritual challenges and produced such acclaimed works as "The Snow Leopard" and "At Play in the Fields of the Lord," died Saturday. He was 86.

His publisher Geoff Kloske of Riverhead Books said Matthiessen, who had been diagnosed with leukemia, was ill "for some months." He died at a hospital near his home on Long Island.

Matthiessen helped found The Paris Review, one of the most influential literary magazines, and won National Book Awards for "The Snow Leopard," his spiritual account of the Himalayas, and for "Shadow Country." His new novel, "In Paradise," is scheduled for publication Tuesday.

A leading environmentalist and wilderness writer, he embraced the best and worst that nature could bring him, whether trekking across the Himalayas, parrying sharks in Australia or enduring a hurricane in Antarctica.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20140405/NEWS/140409084/1685#writer-environmentalist-peter-matthiessen-dies-at-86

[al bupp]

1. Great author, great American

Though it's not an easy read, not because it isn't masterfully written, which it is, but because the story and outcome are so hard to swallow, everyone here should read his recounting of the story of the shoot-out at the Pine Ridge reservation which led to Leonard Peletier's imprisonment, called In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.

[dhill926]

2. + infinity......

[hadrons]

6. I had trouble reading it ....

and I did give up on it (although I didn't want it.) RIP, Peter

[Flaxbee]

3. "there's a deep sadness whenever I look at nature now"

From the piece, how he wrote about nature — grand when respected, dangerous when provoked, tragic when exploited

I so wish humans would understand how we're destroying the only home we've ever had, and most likely will ever have.

I can't read much of what he wrote because it just rips me to pieces, but I greatly respect him for writing all of it.

[villager]

4. "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" was another stirring read of his

Damn, sorry to hear of his passing...

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Holy shit, the NY Times magazine has a story on him this weekend. . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/magazine/peter-matthiessens-homegoing.html?hp&_r=0

NY Times note:
"This article was published online and printed in the Magazine before Mr. Matthiessen died on Saturday April 5."

[kmlisle]

7. One of my favorites- especially the Snow Leopard

I attended a talk by him in my home town. They had it in a small hall and 300 people showed up filling it to over capacity. A great soul has passed.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. Enjoyed his books.

I have The Tree Where Man was Born and In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
Sad story but compelling non-fiction.


RIP Peter.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Only read a couple of his books ... had no idea he had written so many. nt

[LoisB]

10. This is very sad news.