This Wide Terraqueous World

by Laird Hunt

Haunting essays from acclaimed author Laird Hunt balance intimate remembrance with an examination of the writing life.

In this new collection of nonfiction from the celebrated author of Zorrie, Laird Hunt uses fiction as an inspiration, a tool, even an obsession, employing its methods to get to the heart of experience. The “sizzling” work of Jane Bowles colors his wanderings through Palermo, while a London museum trip provokes a consideration of taxidermy’s storytelling potential, and fairytales blend with echoes of W. G. Sebald, Willa Cather, and László Krasznahorkai. From intrigue at the United Nations to a broken-down car in Nebraska, from the history of denim to the dangerous games of childhood, This Wide, Terraqueous World leads readers down the winding paths of memory as Hunt examines his subjects in razor-sharp prose both eerily spare and richly evocative.

Genres: Essays

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

Laird Hunt is an American writer, translator and academic.

Hunt grew up in Singapore, San Francisco, The Hague, and London before moving to his grandmother's farm in rural Indiana, where he attended Clinton Central High School. He earned a B.A. from Indiana University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. He also studied French literature at the Sorbonne. Hunt worked in the press office at the United Nations while writing his first novel. He is currently a professor in the Creative Writing program at University of Denver. Hunt lives with his wife, the poet Eleni Sikelianos, in Boulder, Colorado.

Reviews

[Bob Schnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Laird Hunt gives us a collection of thoughtful essays about his travels and experiences. These train-of-thought pieces are at times wistful, poetic and often gently humorous. My favorite essay was "God Bless Johnny Cash" which ties together Francisco Goya, vultures, COVID-19, the cycle of life and, of course, Johnny Cash. A quick, refreshing read.

[Doug Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been looking for the Laird Hunt that wrote Zorrie, which I thought was tremendous. I haven't re-found him but will keep searching. These essays were a little too scattered for my taste, yet with plenty of moments of brilliance.

[Abigail Sevcik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I inhaled this book. It’s differ from my normal reads and I’ve never actually read a collection of essays before but the title caught my attention so I thought I’d try it out. I can’t tell you what exactly did it for me but I found a lot of things thought provoking even if I didn’t always understand what the author was trying to convey. And honestly Hunt’s style of writing is just plain beautiful. If you enjoy classics, more complex or thought provoking writing I’d definitely recommend giving this collection of essays a go!

My favorite essay was the one the title is based off. It was so relatable and I loved the dead cat references and the Norfolk pine was the star of the show!

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of these essays were more scattered than suited me, but they were also sprinkled with brilliant observations and sparkling prose. The 'This Wide Terraqueous World' essay was particularly captivating, though, and overall I loved the collection.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like his fiction but found this to be intolerably boring.

[Anna Ganey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This writer is clearly very talented and has lived an interesting life, but I could not get into a collection of short stories...about stories you wanted to write and didn't.