Edward Abbey-The famous American Author

Edward Abbey was a famous american author.The American author and essayist Edward Paul Abbey was born on January 29 1927 in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Edward Abbey is famous for his advocacy of environmental issues and criticism of public land policies. Edward Abbey’s best known work is The Monkey Wrench Gang which has inspired many radical environmental groups. His non-fiction work Desert Solitaire is also very famous.

In 1944 Edward Abbey moved west. He earned a masters degree in Philosophy from the University of New Mexico. He started working for the United States Park Service at Arches National Monument, Utah. It was during this time he penned Desert Solitaire. It became one of the greatest works of American literature and is regarded as the finest narration about nature. He has vividly described the physical beauty of Southern Utah. He also describes the mountains and the adventures in the canyon country. He had criticized the industrial development in the national parks which he termed as “industrial tourism”, rails against the Glen Canyon Dam, and on many other subjects.

Abbey was sometimes called “desert anarchist”. His novel was an inspiration to environmentalists frustrated with conventional methods of activism. He would also anger people for his comments on immigration and women. Abbey has harshly criticized the land developers, military-industrial complex, Chambers of Commerce, and energy companies for destroying the landscape.

Edward Abby died in 1989 at the age of 82 at his home in Arizona after suffering from esophageal hemorrhage. There was a lot of controversy following his death. He did not want to be buried in a coffin disregarding all state laws concerning burial. He wanted gunfire, loud and happy music, beer and boozing, lots of singing, dancing for his burial ceremony. He wanted his body to fertilize the soil and trees. His friends had honored his request. He has been buried in the Cabeza Prieta Desert in Pima County, Arizona. His friends have marked the place with a stone which reads

Edward Paul Abbey
1927-1989
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Edward Abbeys notable Works include

Fiction

* Jonathan Troy (1954)
* Fire on the Mountain (1962)
* Black Sun (1971)
* The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975)
* Earth Apples: The Poetry of Edward Abbey (1994)

Non-fiction

* Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness (1968)
* Appalachian Wilderness (1970)
* Cactus Country (1973)
* Confessions of a barbarian (1994)