The Rural Life

The former member of the New York Times editorial board offers a collection of essays that illuminate the beauty of the American landscape. With an eloquence unmatched by any other living writer, Verlyn Klinkenborg observes the juncture at which our lives and the natural world intersect. His yearlong meditation on the rigors and wonders of country life—encompassing memories of his family’s Iowa homestead, time spent in the wide-open spaces of the American West, and his experiences on the small farm in upstate New York where he lives with his wife—abounds with various pleasures for the readers as it indelibly records and elaborates the everyday beauty of the world we inhabit. A New York Times Notable Book of the Year A Book Sense 76 Pick “Captivating, subtle, and splendid . . . . Klinkenborg really is a Thoreau for today . . . . Nonfiction storytelling at its highest: unflaggingly lovely, with scope, profundity, and power achieved through a mastering of the delicate.” —Kirkus Reviews “In a voice reminiscent of E. B. White, Klinkenborg paints a picture of a fading world in colors that are solid and authentic. His joy is evident throughout.” —Los Angeles Times “Arresting, even profound, forcing us to look at the world in a new way.” —Chicago Tribune