A Vagabond for Beauty

Synopsis

INTRODUCED BY PAUL KINGSNORTH, Booker-shortlisted author of The Wake

'I thought that there were two rules in life - never count the cost, and never do anything unless you can do it wholeheartedly. Now is the time to live.'

Artist and wanderer Everett Ruess left home at the age of sixteen to immerse himself in the harsh desert landscapes of the American Southwest. With only his donkeys for company, driven by an insatiable longing for beauty and experience, he ventured ever further from civilisation and into the wilderness of Navajo country.

In 1934, at the age of twenty, he vanished without trace in Utah, a disappearance that remains unsolved to this day. Through letters, diary excerpts and poems - charting not only his rugged adventures and his exquisite nature writing but his progression as a writer, and into adulthood - and with commentary by W. L. Rusho, A Vagabond for Beauty tells his remarkable story.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Call of the Wild

* Chris McCandless, a young man from a wealthy family, gives up his possessions and hitchhikes to Alaska.
* Example: Chris sells his car, gives away his money, and burns his social security card.

Chapter 2: The Great Loneliness

* Chris treks deep into the Alaskan wilderness, encountering harsh conditions and solitude.
* Example: Chris hikes through dense brush, encounters grizzly bears, and faces freezing temperatures.

Chapter 3: Beauty and the Beast

* Chris marvels at the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness but also faces the dangers of nature.
* Example: Chris finds solace in the mountains but also encounters a raging river and a bear that attacks him.

Chapter 4: The Tribe

* Chris encounters a group of travelers who become like family to him.
* Example: Chris meets Wayne Westerberg, a former rodeo star, and Jan Burres, a nurse.

Chapter 5: The Journey Home

* Chris begins his journey back to civilization but encounters difficulties along the way.
* Example: Chris encounters snowstorms, runs out of food, and his canoe capsizes.

Chapter 6: Starvation

* Chris becomes trapped in the wilderness and runs out of food.
* Example: Chris eats berries that make him sick and struggles to find sustenance.

Chapter 7: Death and Redemption

* Chris dies of starvation, leaving behind a journal that chronicles his journey.
* Example: Chris's journal reveals his struggles, insights, and spiritual transformation.

Chapter 8: Legacy

* Chris's story inspires others to seek adventure and beauty in the wilderness.
* Example: People make pilgrimages to the bus where Chris died and share their experiences of his journey.

Chapter 9: The Search for Meaning

* The author reflects on Chris's motivations and the lessons learned from his death.
* Example: The author discusses the allure of the wilderness, the importance of personal growth, and the challenges of modern society.