by Edward Abbey
First published 1988
Henry Lightcap is a broken man searching for purpose in the sprawling deserts of the American Southwest. Adrift after the death of his wife, he embarks on a rambling, drunken odyssey that takes him from the Arizona borderlands to the high Rocky Mountains. Along the way, he encounters a colorful cast of misfits and dreamers, all seeking escape from the modern world's relentless march. As Henry's journey unfolds, he grapples with profound questions of life, love, and his own flawed humanity, all while battling the bottle and the harsh, unforgiving landscapes that threaten to consume him.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, american
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, road-trip
Setting: Arizona, Rocky Mountains
Period: 20th-century
485 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt & Co
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse, depression