The Last American Man by Elizabeth GilbertMy review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
In the Epilogue, Gilbert says "The history of Eustace Conway is the history of man's progress on the North American continent," and she has done her homework charting the path of the American male hero from Natty Bumppo to Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett to show parallels in Eustace Conway's life. She makes Eustace both hero and human, showing his enormous vision and passion for restoring us to a more natural lifestyle and also showing his failings in some human interactions. Gilbert's style is conversational--she becomes and is part of the story, not just as a reporter but as a friend of Eustace and of his family members. I'm still a little uncertain about her being so personally involved in the story, but I suppose that may be because my own frame of reference does not usually prefer "gonzo journalism." Still, there is so much to like about the book: Gilbert's writing is engaging and Eustace Conway is larger than life, warts and all.
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