The Hermit's Story is a remarkable story collection, "the work of a seasoned author in full possession of his art and craft" (Denver Post ). An acclaimed and versatile author, Rick Bass "puts his talent as a nature writer to terrific use . . . his ability to map the inner lives of his characters is equally impressive" (New York Times Book Review). Often finding themselves in the wilderness in unexpected situations, the characters in these ten stories try to seek out the marrow of life. In one story, a couple passes a magical afternoon in an abandoned mine; in another, two people travel beneath the frozen surface of a dry lake. In a third story, a woman lights fires along the shore of a freezing pond to warm the five swans living there, while the once robust fire in her aging mate's mind slowly turns to ash. "Animated by a radiant literary sensibility" (Newsday), Bass's stories explore the mythical, near-magical connections between man and nature. The Hermit's Story is a masterly collection that shows Rick Bass at the top of his form.