A good author/environmentalist, Peter Matthiessen has died
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/writer-environmentalist-peter-matthiessen-dies
NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Matthiessen, an award-winning author who helped found The Paris Review, has died.
His publisher Geoff Kloske of Riverhead Books said Matthiessen died Saturday after being ill "for some months." He had been diagnosed with leukemia. Matthiesen was 86.
Matthiessen 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 rich man's son who scorned his privileged childhood, Matthiessen was also a Zen priest, a political activist and a leading environmentalist and wilderness writer. In the early 1950s, he helped George Plimpton found The Paris Review, one of the most influential literary magazines.
Matthiessen emerged as a major novelist in 1961 with "At Play in the Fields of the Lord."
I was introduced to him from his book In The Spirit Of Crazy Horse, which told the story of Leonard Peltier, the founding of AIM (American Indian Movement), and the FBI's actions persecuting the Native people of Pine Ridge.
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Good journey, Peter, your voice enriched the world.
It's so strange to see this news tonight. I spent a good part of this morning reading about him and his latest book. A stray thought about the movie that had been made out his book, At Play in the Fields of the Lord sent me to google, and from there I simply indulged myself in reading random links - including a beautiful recent interview from the NYT (I think) where it was mentioned that he was about to embark on new round of chemotherapy for leukemia.
My first introduction to Matthiessen was his book The Snow Leopard, which will always be one of the most memorable books I've ever read. And, of course, I've also read In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
He knew that In Paradise would be his last book, in the interview I read this morning, he stated so.
So, farewell to a bright and wonderful soul. His was very much a life well-lived.
He had an exceptional journey...
I hadn't realized he was so ill.
Response to NightWatcher (Original post)
Then had dinner with them while he regaled us with stories about George Schaller. One of the nicest and most interesting people I've ever met.
Still have an inscribed copy of The Snow Leopard he gave me.
I am so happy for you that you got to spend time with him!
