Edward Paul Abbey American writer and essayist Date of Birth: 29.01.1927 Country: USA

Edward Paul Abbey Biography

Edward Paul Abbey was an American writer and essayist known for his writings on ecology, criticism of public land management principles, and anarchistic views. He was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Mildred Postlewait, a school teacher, and her husband Paul Revere Abbey. Mildred instilled in Edward a love for classical music and literature, while Paul's socialist, anarchist, and atheist beliefs had an even greater impact on him.

In 1945, Abbey graduated from high school and was expected to be drafted into the army. However, six months before that, he embarked on a journey to explore the southwestern part of the country. Walking, hitchhiking, and using buses and freight trains, Edward traveled through vast desert lands and fell in love with what he saw. Upon returning home, he was still drafted into the army and served two years in Italy before returning to the United States and enrolling at the University of New Mexico with the help of a soldier's rights bill. In 1951, he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and later a master's degree in 1956. During his time at university, Abbey worked various jobs to support himself, including being a bartender and a reporter. He had few friends but was always magnetically drawn to women, marrying for the first time shortly after receiving his bachelor's degree.

Abbey briefly edited a student newspaper in 1947, where he published a letter calling for students to burn their draft cards, resulting in an FBI investigation. After college, he traveled to Scotland with his wife Jean Schmechal and studied at the University of Edinburgh on a Fulbright scholarship. However, their marriage ended, and in 1951, Edward began a romance with Rita Deanin, which culminated in marriage in 1952.

In 1956 and 1957, Abbey worked for the United States National Park Service. During this time, he lived in a trailer provided by the service and a self-built cabin. It was during his time as a park ranger that Abbey collected recordings and sketches that later became his book, "Desert Solitaire." On October 16, 1965, Abbey married for the third time to Judy Pepper, who also worked with him in the forests of Florida. They were temporarily separated when Edward went to the University of Arizona to complete his master's thesis.

While in Arizona, Abbey engaged in multiple affairs with other women, causing strain in his marriage with Judy. On July 11, 1970, Judy Pepper passed away from leukemia, plunging Abbey into a prolonged and severe depression. He dedicated his book "Black Sun" to Judy, although it was not solely about her but rather one of his numerous affairs. In 1968, Abbey published "Desert Solitaire," his first non-fiction book, which is still regarded as one of the best works of nature literature.

In 1982, Edward married for the fifth and final time to Clark Cartwright. Two years later, he returned to the University of Arizona as a professor while continuing to work on his next book, "Fool's Progress." In the fall of 1987, a letter written by Murray Bookchin accusing Abbey, Garrett Hardin, and the "Earth First!" movement of racism and eco-terrorism was published in "Utne Reader." Edward felt deeply offended by such accusations and vehemently denied being racist or a terrorist. It later became clear that Murray based his accusations of racism on their strong opposition to illegal immigration.

In 1989, Edward began experiencing internal bleeding due to serious vein problems. He underwent surgery to stop the bleeding, but complications from the operation proved fatal. Abbey passed away on March 14, 1989, at the age of 62. Until his death, he remained fully conscious and instructed that his last words be "No comment." In accordance with his wishes, Abbey wanted to be buried not in a coffin or crypt but in his old sleeping bag, so that his decomposing remains could fertilize the land he loved.