Synopses & Reviews
In his controversial 1998 book Fiber, Rick Bass introduced a troubling dilemma of the literary artist and activist: How can any nature writer engage in celebration of the natural world in the face of environmental degradation? Perhaps, Bass speculated, the "activist is the artist's ashes," the identity that emerges finally from charred remains of a "pure" devotion to the art of nature writing. In The Literary Art and Activism of Rick Bass, the first comprehensive collection of literary criticism to address Bass's work, fifteen scholars elucidate the development of social, political, and personal issues in Basss fiction and nonfiction.
Review
"An insightful look at Rick Basss environmental advocacy and his artistic achievement, this collection places Basss writing squarely at the forefront of contemporary American nature writing."Ann Ronald, University of Nevada, Reno
Review
"Even a sampling of this volume's essays reveals that it informs readers not only about Rick Bass and his work but also about the fast developing fields of environmental literature, literary ecology, and ecocriticism."Southwestern American Literature
Review
"Clearly, the energy in Bass's prose stimulates equally energetic responses in the maturing field of ecocriticism.... These essays make an important contribution to the field."ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment