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The Snow Leopard

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The Snow Leopard recounts Peter Matthiessen's 1973 journey into Nepal's Himalayas with biologist George Schaller to study the elusive blue sheep and seek the rare snow leopard. Beyond a nature expedition, the book explores Matthiessen's spiritual quest, reflecting his deepening understanding of Buddhist concepts such as impermanence and suffering. The narrative weaves together breathtaking descriptions of the wilderness with profound personal and philosophical insights.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5300

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This book will captivate readers interested in travel literature, natural history, and spiritual journeys, especially those with an appreciation for Buddhist philosophy and richly poetic prose.

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WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

"A masterpiece that exceeds the boundaries of the travel genre and envelops you with its incredible prose." — Wall Street Journal

An unforgettable spiritual journey through the Himalayas by renowned writer Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014).

In 1973, Peter Matthiessen and field biologist George Schaller traveled high into the remote mountains of Nepal to study the Himalayan blue sheep and possibly glimpse the rare and beautiful snow leopard. Matthiessen, a student of Zen Buddhism, was also on a spiritual quest to find the Lama of Shey at the ancient shrine on Crystal Mountain. As the climb proceeds, Matthiessen charts his inner path as well as his outer one, with a deepening Buddhist understanding of reality, suffering, impermanence, and beauty.

This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction by acclaimed travel writer and novelist Pico Iyer.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780143105510

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 September 2008

Country: United States

Imprint: Penguin USA

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Pico Iyer

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 249g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Peter Matthiessen was the cofounder of The Paris Review and is the author of numerous works of nonfiction, including In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Indian Country, and The Snow Leopard, winner of the National Book Award.

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