Riding Toward Everywhere - by William T Vollmann (Paperback)

About the Book

Vollmann is a relentlessly curious, endlessly sensitive, and unequivocally adventurous examiner of human existence. In his work, he offers readers a gorgeously written immersion in the trainhopping, hobo life. 66 b&w photos.

From the Back Cover

Arelentlessly curious, endlessly sensitive, and unequivocally adventurous examiner of human existence, William T. Vollmann now takes to the rails. In the company of experienced fellow train-hopper Steve, Vollmann trawls the secretive waters of a unique underground lifestyle--subjecting both our national romance with and skepticism about the hobo life to his finely tuned, analytical eye. Carrying on in the footloose tradition of Huckleberry Finn, he offers a moving, strikingly modern vision of the American dream, brilliantly exploring both our deeply ingrained romanticizing of "freedom" and the myriad ways we restrict the very freedoms we profess to admire.

Review Quotes

"A writer whose books tower over the work of his contemporaries." - Washington Post Book World
"A monster; monster talent, ambition, and accomplishment." - Los Angeles Times
"Intrepid journalist and novelist William T. Vollman's colossal body of work stands unsurpassed for its range, moral imperative, and artistry." - Booklist
"Evoking Jack London, Hemingway, Kerouac, Thomas Wolfe and Walt Whitman . . . Vollmann, perhaps more than any other contemporary writer, embodies the questioning, pioneering American jazz-spirit . . . [he] is inspiring; he's contagious." - San Antonio Express-News
"An immense literary talent." - New York Times
"No matter where he has wandered, Vollmann has remained a consistently serious writer, seriously committed to saying something about our broken world." - Esquire