The Monkey Wrench Gang is a book written by American author Edward Abbey (1927–1989) and published in 1975.

This novel, Abbey’s most well-known work of fiction, describes characters who use sabotage to protest activities that harm the environment in the Southwestern United States. The book had such an impact that the word "monkeywrench," often used as a verb, now refers not only to damaging machines but also to any actions—such as activism, making or breaking laws—that aim to protect natural areas, wild spaces, and ecosystems.

In 1985, Dream Garden Press released a special 10th anniversary version of the book. This edition included illustrations by R. Crumb and a chapter titled "Seldom Seen at Home," which had been removed from the original version. Crumb’s artwork was also used in a limited-edition calendar inspired by the book. The most recent version of the book was published in 2006 by Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

Plot summary

The book's four main characters are people who care about the environment but do not fit typical roles. They include "Seldom Seen" Smith, a river guide who follows the Jack Mormon religion; Doc Sarvis, a kind but unusual surgeon who is wealthy and knowledgeable; Bonnie Abbzug, a young Jewish woman who works as a helper and supports equal rights; and George Hayduke, a Green Beret soldier from the Vietnam War who acts in an unusual way. Although they do not always work closely together, they form a group known for fighting against what they believe is a harmful system that harms the environment in the American West. As the group attacks abandoned bulldozers and trains, the law begins to take action against them.

For the group, the main enemies are people who want to develop the American Southwest by destroying the land, polluting the air, and harming nature and the sacred beauty of the desert described in the book. They are most opposed to the Glen Canyon Dam, a large concrete structure that blocks a wild river they believe should remain untouched.

Legacy

The book was praised by many readers. The New York Times wrote, "Since the release of his novel The Monkey Wrench Gang last September, Mr. Abbey, a 48-year-old man from a small town in Pennsylvania, has become a secret hero in the West among students, environmentalists, and people who support eco-activism."

The book is widely read by a group of environmentalists who take strong actions to protect nature. In his book Screw Unto Others, George Hayduke says Edward Abbey was his teacher and explains that the term "monkey-wrenching" comes from The Monkey Wrench Gang. The book also inspired environmentalist David Foreman to help start Earth First!, an organization that uses direct action to fight environmental harm, often showing acts of vandalism similar to those in the book. The novel includes detailed scenes of actions like burning a billboard at the start of the story and using caltrops to avoid a group of people trying to stop them. These scenes are described clearly enough that some readers might use them as basic instructions for similar actions.

In his book Sewer, Gas & Electric: The Public Works Trilogy, author Matt Ruff notes:

Sequel and adaptations

The book Hayduke Lives! continues the story that began in The Monkey Wrench Gang.

A movie version of the book, created by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, has been in planning for a long time. Neil Young will create the music for the film, and Open Road Films will release it in the United States. The people who own the film rights to the book sued the makers of the movie Night Moves, saying the movie’s story is very similar to the book’s plot.