Will Gaitlin is a stone cold stoic, a self-critical ex-teacher who has practically gone feral. I try to put these things in perspective and remember that the early 70's were a very different time and attitudes were different. It also contains the-via the character Ballentine-the crude and dated attitudes about women, commitment and sexuality that also find their way into Abbey's books which modern readers might find annoying. In my mind a dirty old man is over 70.Īlthough this is not the typical Abbey book with political ranting and raving it still contains the gorgeous depictions of nature that he is known for. Several reviewers have dubbed the main character a "dirty old man." How can Will be that at the age of 37? I understand that Sandy was 19, but she was by all means a consenting adult. I enjoyed Black Sun because it showed a different side of Abbey and frankly it reveals a truth about male experience that men hide about themselves until they are long married-that truth being that they become profoundly attached to their woman partner and losing her can have catastrophic consequences for a man. I have been a fan of Edward Abbey since I read The Monkey Wrench Gang in college.
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