No writer has had a greater influence on the American west than edward Abbey (1927-1989), author of twenty-one books of fiction and non-fiction. This long-awaited biographical memoir by one Of Abbey's closest friends is ...No writer has had a greater influence on the American west than edward Abbey (1927-1989), author of twenty-one books of fiction and non-fiction. This long-awaited biographical memoir by one Of Abbey's closest friends is a tribute to the anarchist who popularised environmental activism in his novel 'the monkey wrench gang' and articulated the spirit of the arid west in desert solitaire and scores of other essays and articles.