Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry Synopsis

Essayist, social critic, poet, ""mad farmer,"" novelist, and teacher: Wendell Berry has been described in many ways, but no combination of labels adequately articulates his relevance or his influence. Berry's unique perspective and vision have allowed him to propose complex questions - especially about humankind and our relationship to the land - and to provide simple but profound solutions. All of Berry's writing - essays, novels, and poems - gives voice to a provocative but consistent philosophy, one that extends far beyond its agrarian core to include elements of sociology, nature, politics, religion, philosophy, linguistics, agriculture, and other seemingly disparate fields of study. ""Wendell Berry: Life and Work"" celebrates this important man, appraising his written work and illuminating his influence as an activist and artist. Jason Peters has assembled a rich variety of scholars and writers including Hayden Carruth, Sven Birkerts, Barbara Kingsolver, Stanley Hauerwas, Donald Hall, Ed McClanahan, Bill McKibben, Scott Russell Sanders, Norman Wirzba, Wes Jackson, Eric T. Freyfogle, and many others. Each contributor examines an aspect of Berry's varied yet cohesive body of work. Also included are personal glimpses of Wendell Berry himself: his career, his academic influence, and his unconventional lifestyle. Transcending traditional labels, ""Wendell Berry: Life and Work"" combines biographical sketches, personal accounts, literary criticism, and social commentary to provide the most comprehensive study of Wendell Berry and his profound, indelible message.