Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 12-2009 Desert Solecisms: The Revitalization of Self and Community through Edward Abbey, the Cold War, and the Sacred Fire Circle Lyra Hilliard Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Recommended Citation Hilliard, Lyra, "Desert Solecisms: The Revitalization of Self and Community through Edward Abbey, the Cold War, and the Sacred Fire Circle" (2009). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 481. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/481 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. DESERT SOLECISMS: THE REVITALIZATION OF SELF AND COMMUNITY THROUGH EDWARD ABBEY, THE COLD WAR, AND THE SACRED FIRE CIRCLE by Lyra Hilliard A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in American Studies Approved: ________________________ _____________________ Chris Cokinos Michael Sowder Major Professor Committee Member ________________________ _____________________ Lawrence Culver Byron R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2009 ii Copyright © Lyra Hilliard 2009 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Desert Solecisms: The Revitalization of Individual and Community Through Edward Abbey, the Cold War, and the Sacred Fire Circle by Lyra Hilliard, Master of Arts Utah State University, 2009 Major Professor: Christopher Cokinos Program: American Studies This creative thesis is a braided narrative in which I explore the promised lands of Utah through my travels in the summer of 2008, the Cold War defense industry, and the early career of writer Edward Abbey.