Nigel C.B. Edwards

Into the Wild is a non-fiction book that was adapted into a film with the same title. Written by Jon Krakauer, the book concerns the travels of Christopher McCandless across the USA. McCandless graduated in 1990 from Emory University and shortly later gave his college fund of $24,000 to Oxfam before hitchhiking to the Stampede Trail in Alaska. McCandless embarked upon the snow-covered trail with just 10 pounds of rice, a 22 caliber rifle, a camera, some reading material, and a few boxes of rifle rounds. After 100 days, McCandless died on August 18th 1992.

Krakaeur interpreted McCandless’s ascetic personality as being influenced by the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Jack London. Krakaeur also related tales of other similar young men who disappeared into the wilderness, such as Everett Ruess who went missing at age 20 in the Utah desert in 1934. Krakaeur also dwells upon the grief and confusion of McCandless’s parents, sibling, and friends. Sean Penn directed the film adaptation which is well worth watching, just head to sky.com/hd!