A Confederate General from Big Sur

The novel’s protagonist, Lee Mellon, is convinced he is a descendant of a Confederate general. He seeks his roots in Big Sur, a Californian region where his ancestor once lived. This search turns into a journey into the depths of his own consciousness, where reality intertwines with fantasy. Richard Brautigan’s characters don’t hide or run from life; rather, they seek opportunities to live it their own way, sometimes bitterly, sometimes humorously and casually, above all defending their right to inner freedom. The novel became a kind of manifesto for the hippie generation, which sought alternative ways of life. Brautigan influenced many contemporary writers who experiment with form and content.