Heart's Desire: The Best of Edward Hoagland : Essays from Twenty Years

by Edward Hoagland

In this collection of four new and thirty-one previously published essays, the author offers his observations on a remarkably broad range of topics, including life, love, marriage, children, suffering, the city, and isolation

Genres: Essays, Nature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Edward Hoagland (born December 21, 1932, in New York, New York) is an author best known for his nature and travel writing. His non-fiction has been widely praised by writers such as John Updike, who called him "the best essayist of my generation."

Reviews

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this at my awesome used books store, and picked it up on a whim. Updike says on the cover that Hoagland is the best essayist of his generation. I can't disprove that statement. Hoagland actually provides a really interesting link between writers like Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman et al. and modern urban life. His writing style is equally at home describing the wild or the city, red wolves, or red-mohawked-Greenwich Villagers. He's not dispassionate, and he never proselytizes, preferring instead to grab your attention with his conversational but proficient style and persuade you through his reasonableness, like a neighbor who's introducing you to the area about which he is an expert.

[Black Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating collection of essays. All over the map, and always wonderful observations related in such a relaxed, natural manner. Like sitting down with an old friend. Loved "Walking The Dead Diamond" and the piece on Peter Schumann of Bread & Puppet - loved all. Highly recommended!

[Paige]

New York Review of Books: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archi...