Peter matthiessen is a unique and masterful visionary artist robert. A novel vintage books ed paperback and read by peter matthiessen far tortuga. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen 1988, paperback for. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. Peter matthiessen a west indian turtlefishing expedition meets with failure, and desperation and discord affect the ragged crew who are beset with superstition and belief in tales of pirates, storms and other. It is a rare book that combines a good sea yarn with exciting experimental writing, but peter matthiessen did it and impressively so with far tortuga, a book which by the time you read this, i have listed with my alltime favorites. Buy far tortuga binding damaged by peter matthiessen isbn.
Peter matthiessen has crafted a spare and eloquent elegy. Near fine in an excellent priceclipped dust jacket that is lightly rubbed. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The far tortuga of the title of matthiessens book is the name of a fictional cay on an equally fictional reef hidden somewhere in the caribbean. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen the 1904th greatest. Since the 1950s peter matthiessen has written fiction and nonfiction of elemental power and moral vision, including the acclaimed novels at play in the fields of the lord and far tortuga and works of naturalism and exploration like the national. Its full of music and strong, haunting visuals, and like everything. An assignment for sports illustrated to report on american endangered. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen first edition 1975. Pdf far tortuga by peter matthiessen download pdf free. James dickey feels that far tortuga is a turning point in the evolution of the novel, that you are creating our new vision.
Peter matthiessen s novel far tortuga is a dream of sun and shadow, original in form and flawless in execution. He started writing nonfiction after divorcing his first wife. The lines of the story could not be more stark and skeletal one wants to say classic. His impressionistic method is perfectly suited to this subject. The book was in good condition, the print is a little smaller than i remembered. Far tortuga book by peter matthiessen 8 available editions. But the configurations of the later novel allow a more perfectly executed rendering, not only in that here the setting of a voyage isolates the characters more completely in a microcosm of the world, but that the land world of these men, the cayman. Set aboard the lillias eden, a ship set in course from the cayman islands along the edge of central america, american author peter matthiessens adventure novel far tortuga 1975 follows the ships captain, raib avers, and his crew, whose. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen, first edition abebooks. Peter matthiessen author peter matthiessen was born in new york city in 1927 and had already begun his writing career by the time he graduated from yale university in 1950. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. An adventure story and a deeply considered meditation upon the sea itself.
Since his death on april 5 ive been trying to crack in. Since the 1950s peter matthiessen has written fiction and nonfiction of elemental power and moral vision, including the acclaimed novels at play in the fields of the lord and far tortuga and works of naturalism and exploration like the national b. Peter matthiessen isnt known as an avant garde writer, but far tortuga is a deeply experimental novel that deserves to be discussed with the best of coover, barthleme, hawkes, etc. A trilogy, composed of killing mister watson 1990, lost mans river 1997, and bone by bone 1999, fictionalizes the life of a murderous planter. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen overdrive rakuten. It is a kind of mythical island, abounding with birds, fish and sea turtles tortuga meaning turtle in spanish, a sea of plenty and easy fishing, a genuine garden of eden. Far tortuga is an important book, its pleasures are many and good for the soul. It will be discovered in time, much as was moby dickbut hopefully it wont take as long. This page contains details about the fiction book far tortuga by peter matthiessen published in 1875. His novel, shadow country, won a national book award. P eter matthiessens fifth novel, far tortuga, is a singular experience, a series of moments captured whole and. Far tortuga has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen 1975, hardcover for.
Far tortuga by peter matthiessen 1988, paperback for sale. Feb 02, 2018 matthiessen is the only writer to win national book awards in both nonfiction, for the snow leopard, and fiction, for his 2008 novel, shadow country. Matthiessen s nonfiction featured nature and travel, notably the. Read far tortuga a novel by peter matthiessen available from rakuten kobo. Mattiessen creates a new style, with word paragraphs of beautiful descriptions of the natural world and the sea, then the emphasis on the dialect spoken in the bahamas, so deeply felt and understood that it is poetry, the natural rythums of speech and nature captured. The snow leopard won the 1979 national book award for nonfiction. This book is full of the lore and legend of the caribbean and of heartpiercing descriptions of the. Far tortuga author matthiessen, peter formatbinding hardcover book condition used very good jacket condition good quantity available 1 edition first edition binding hardcover isbn 10 039449461x isbn 9780394494616 publisher random house place of publication new york date published 1975. Far tortuga is a deep book but also a fascinating story. Far tortuga is a beautifully written, poetic adventure story, a haunting tale of men in conflict with the sea, one another, and themselves. In this dark, suspenseful, and seriously funny novel, twotime booker winner peter carey takes us. Far tortuga 1975 concerns the events leading up to the death of the crew of a turtlefishing boat in the caribbean. Aug 15, 2015 the far tortuga of the title of matthiessens book is the name of a fictional cay on an equally fictional reef hidden somewhere in the caribbean. Matthiessen is the only writer to win national book awards in both nonfiction, for the snow leopard, and fiction, for his 2008 novel, shadow country.
Far tortuga ebook by peter matthiessen rakuten kobo. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen 1975, hardcover for sale. That year matthiessen set out on the turtleboat voyage from grand cayman island to the coastal reefs off nicaragua that eventually led to the novel far tortuga 1975, which thomas pynchon called a masterfully spun yarn, a little otherworldly, a dreamlike momentum. It is a kind of mythical island, abounding with birds, fish and sea turtles tortuga meaning turtle in spanish, a sea of. When i added that far tortuga must be a highlight of his career, matthiessen, for all of the egolessness of the book s authorial style, was quick to correct me. Nine men aboard an old caribbean schooner drift in search of the fishi. Peter matthiessens novel far tortuga is a dream of sun and shadow, original in form and flawless in execution. At play in the fields of the lord and far tortuga as well as in the later watson novels. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen fantastic fiction. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading far tortuga. Mattiessen creates a new style, with word paragraphs of beautiful descriptions of the natural world and the sea, then the emphasis on the dialect spoken in the bahamas, so deeply felt and understood that it. He practised zen buddhism and was seen by some as a newage guru. Complete summary of peter matthiessens far tortuga. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of far tortuga by peter matthiessen.
A novel vintage books ed paperback online books in format pdf. Set in the west indies, where all the races and colors of the world mingle, this is primarily the. I had first bought an inprint paperback edition from bn, and found the print too small. This late modernist work is quite simply a forgotten masterpiece.
His novel, at play in the fields of the lord, was made into a movie. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read far tortuga. When he returned to fiction, it was with far tortuga 1975, set among turtle hunters. Peter matthiessen may 22, 1927 april 5, 2014 was an american novelist, naturalist, wilderness writer, zen teacher and cia officer. Robert stones second novel, dog soldiers, won a national book award for fiction this year. Far tortuga by peter matthiessen, 9780394756677, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Apr 06, 2014 when i added that far tortuga must be a highlight of his career, matthiessen, for all of the egolessness of the book s authorial style, was quick to correct me.
314 135 30 1515 1120 734 304 66 137 595 1114 1327 1278 1315 663 820 703 780 1175 236 1353 579 1448 662 925 1060 1020 949 970 466 41 728