Peter Matthiessen has made [in "The Snow Leopard"] another of his epic trips for us—epic in the sense that he writes about them so much better than anybody else who has been undertaking journeys such as his in recent years. (p. 1)

Usually Mr. Matthiessen's companions have been a scruffy collection of shabby hirelings and rich macho playboys who were footing the bill. So—with his friend and with the noble Sherpas—there is a lightness to this walk for him. What is confusing from time to time is that, as well as this worthy company, he feels the presence of Buddha—the Awakened One—here in high Buddhist country, having lately, in America, become a committed convert himself. Also, his wife has died of cancer, and so memories of her are interjected throughout this radiant but rather fragile, flickering book. (p. 20)

[Twenty] years' experience at note-taking on...