“Prologue” from
A Single Excellent Night

The first seven pages from the prologue to A Single Excellent Night, introduce the main characters, Peter Matthiessen and the author, and set the scene for the rest of the book. “Life & Death Are Of Supreme Importance“ embodies many of the themes of A Single Excellent Night: Zen, spirituality, writing, and the importance of relationships, especially the relationship between a student and wise mentor. While the prologue, and the book, begin with Peter Matthiessen’s death, the rest of A Single Excellent Night is told through memory and flashbacks, bringing Peter Matthiessen and Lee Carlson’s relationship back to life in vivid detail.

 Simply click on the Image of the chapter to open the PDF file in a new window. You can read it online or download it for reading on an e-reader device.