A 1978 contemplative travel book of Peter Matthiessen concerned him tracking what elusive creature of the Himalayas?
Peter Matthiessen of the marriage. Matthiessen was diagnosed with leukemia in late 2012. He died at his home in Sagaponack on April 5, 2014, aged 86. Peter Matthiessen Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014) was an American novelist, naturalist, wilderness writer, zen teacher and CIA agent. A co-founder of the literary magazine "The Paris Review", he was the only writer to have won the National Book Award in both fiction and nonfiction. He was also a prominent environmental activist. Matthiessen's nonfiction featured nature and travel, notably "The Snow Leopard" (1978) and American Indian issues and history, such as a
Peter Matthiessen leukemia for more than a year. He died on April 5, 2014, three days before publication of his final book, the memoir "In Paradise" on April 8. Matthiessen was born in New York City to Erard Adolph Matthiessen (1902-2000) and Elizabeth (née Carey). Erard, an architect, joined the Navy during World War II and helped design gunnery training devices. Later, he gave up architecture to become a spokesman and fundraiser for the Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. The well-to-do family lived in both New York City and Connecticut where, along with his brother, Matthiessen developed a love of animals