Der Schneeleopard

In the sights of the most beautiful big cat in the world: a journey to the edge of heaven and the limits of our perception.

In the autumn of 1973, Peter Matthiessen sets out with biologist George Schaller to the highest permanently inhabited mountain valleys on Earth: Nepal's Dolpo. Here, people and animals defy extreme conditions and lead lives full of sharpness and contour. For centuries, a tradition of Tibetan Buddhism has flourished here. Schaller aims to document the mating behavior of high-altitude blue sheep, while Matthiessen seeks to process his grief over the cancer death of his wife. Both are united by their fascination with the most mysterious inhabitant of Dolpo: the snow leopard.

In this masterpiece, for which Matthiessen received the National Book Award twice—in 1979 and 1980 in different categories—natural scientific clarity, spiritual awareness, and the lyrical art of brevity combine to create a life-changing reading experience. Never has this literary testament to the immeasurable wealth that spiritual and material renunciation can bring been more urgent and relevant than today.