The Traveling Feast: On the Road and at the Table with My Heroes

Rick Bass set out on a journey to thank his writing mentors in person by preparing a memorable meal for each of them. At a turning point in his life—in his midfifties, following the end of his long marriage and with his grown daughters living independently—Bass embarked on this odyssey to express gratitude for how these writers shaped both his work and his life. The journey takes readers across America to visit iconic writers, while also documenting Bass's own transformation as he seeks to recapture the passion of his younger years. Along the way, the narrative includes various incidents: smuggled contraband, an exploding grill, a trail of blood through Heathrow airport, dog-watching with Amy Hempel in Central Park, and a near encounter with plague-ridden prairie dogs on the way to see Lorrie Moore. The book also includes final meals with Peter Matthiessen, John Berger, and Denis Johnson. The account combines humor, poignancy, and reflection, presenting both an adventure and a meditation on living well.