He Died Outdoors with his Eye on the Trail Ahead

America's Most Important Contemporary Writer
by Charlie Leck

I going to say something outlandish: Garrison Keillor is the finest writer in America today! He says more things of importance in his writing than any other person in the nation. He says it with humor. He says it with bite.

Here's the great thing about Keillor. He deals with truly prophetic and vital issues; yet, he's got a broad, wonderful sense of humor. Keillor is our generation's Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Updike and Vonnegut.

If you don't regularly read Keillor's weekly columns, you're missing out on a treasure. If you don't read his books, you're missing a treat. This is from his column distributed by Tribune Media Services (unfortunately, it doesn't appear anywhere on the Internet).

"I am descended from a man named David Powell who was restless all through the 19^th century and though a farmer, he moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, then Indiana, then Illinois, then Iowa, then Missouri, and in one last thrust forward, he rode into Oklahoma in the great land rush and got 20 miles, felt ill, got off his horse, sat down under a tree, and died outdoors with his eye on the trail ahead. A good death."

Keillor is a very good entertainer. His radio shows and his stage appearances are really very good. His writing is excellent – beautifully done and insightful. Read Garrison Keillor.