Snyder, Gary

The Practice of the Wild: Essays

ISBN: 0865474540
New York, NY, USA: North Point Press/ Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1990. First Softcover Edition; Sixth Printing. Softcover. Signed by Gary Snyder. "Most of the essays in this book had their inception in talks, workshops, and conversations that took place over the last fifteen years. I owe much to the many fine people and places that called these thoughts forth. Although my work and curiosity take me far afield, I am foremost a person of the Yuba River country in the Sierra Nevada of northern California. The San Juan Ridge and the many people there with whom I share work, rituals, and ideas are at the core of this exercise." (from "By Way of Thanks," pg. ix) A compilation of essays by Gary Snyder (b. 1930), the canonical poet & environmentalist of the Beat Generation & San Francisco Renaissance who is still with us & active as of this writing at age 94. Snyder's deep & enlightened attachment to his beloved rugged natural environment & immersion in Native American practices are described & taught in these nine themed sections of hypnotically wise essays. Trade-format softcover, first softcover edition originally published in 1990, "Sixth printing, 1994" as stated at copyright page. On the title page, below & overlapping with his printed name, Snyder has has hand-written his riveting, beautiful signature in bold black ink. From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. The TRC archive was acquired, catalogued & offered as a single item by Third Mind Books (see our item No. 1010), & collectively represents the entire legacy of the BBG/SSFR, & its collaborations/ mentorships with key members of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance. Its vast number of items are being individually curated & presented throughout this year of 2025. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, wherein Crowe provides an ancedotal understanding of this literary phenomenon, its members & mentors- including of course Snyder, a particularly important & influential figure who is referred to, along with the community he describes above, extensively throughout the volume. An essential Snyder collectible that sheds critical light on the beliefs & observations that inspire his classic poetry, greatly enriched by his magnificent signature & with the most distinguished, relevant association & provenance. See also our item No. 7227. In relatively quite very fine condition with only light rubbing, mostly faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; light rubbing, mild-to-moderate spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only a hint of browning to thin margins/edges of blank inner covers; slight bleeding of signature ink onto verso of title page (copyright page); miniscule bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #7371]

Price: $50.00