Bridgehampton - It is indisputable that Peter Matthiessen is one of the Hamptons' most honored and prolific writers. He has written almost two dozen works of non-fiction, winning the National Book Award for "Snow Leopard" in 1979 and 10 works of fiction, including the three novels of the Watson Trilogy: "Killing Mister Watson," "Lost Man's River," and "Bone By Bone."

Two time National Book Award winner and Sagaponack resident, Peter Matthiessen.

Originally conceived as a vast single novel based on the legend and life of sugar planter and outlaw E.J. Watson, in 2008 the three works were published in Matthiessen's condensed, re-rendered volume entitled "Shadow Country" and with it he won his second National Book Award. One of only four writers to win the National Book Award twice, he has been nominated a total of four times and is the only author to ever win the prestigious award in both fiction and non-fiction.

In 1952, shortly after graduating from Yale, he and another eventual favorite son of the Hamptons, the late George Plimpton, were among the founders of the Paris Review, which in its second issue published one of only two interviews ever given by American literary giant Ernest Hemingway.

The literary magazine they created is well into its sixth decade and remains the standard to which all other literary reviews are measured. In 1974 Matthiessen was bestowed the coveted distinction of being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Matthiesssen is a naturalist whose anthropological and ecological expeditions have taken him to to the four corners of the world. A practicing Zen Buddhist, his devotion eventually lead him to attain the position of an acknowledged Buddhist priest.

First settling in Sagaponack in 1954, Matthiessen worked several years as a commercial fisherman before establishing himself as a writer. His passion for that threatened profession and those East Enders that call it their trade is reflected in the work most associated with his life in the Hamptons, "Men's Lives: The Surfmen and Baymen of the South Fork" (1986).

Two Hamptonian literary giants: James Salter chats with his friend Peter Matthiessen.

Adapted for the stage by world renowned playwright and Sag Harbor summer resident Joe Pintauro, the play "Men's Lives" was the inaugural world premiere production that launched the then newly founded Bay Street Theatre in 1992.

As yet another in a long line of gestures supporting the community in which he lives, on June 10 in Bridgehampton, Matthiessen gave a public reading of selected excerpts from "Shadow Country" in support of The Hamptons Library as part of their "Fridays At Five" series. As the library itself is undergoing extensive renovations, the event was held at the First Presbyterian Church.

After an alfresco reception of beverages and hors d'oeuvres, fans of the writer filled the pews in the cavernous church for the ratified opportunity to hear a seminal American writer read aloud his own words.

Matthiessen was introduced by his friend and another American writer of monumental stature, James Salter. Admitting that Matthiessen hardly needed an introduction, after giving some literary and biographical background on his friend, Salter referred to "Shadow Country" as, "If not the crowning achievement of a life's work, it is the crowning achievement of at least three decades of work." He went on to describe Matthiessen as, "America's, I would say, best known naturalist. He is an unfailing champion for the environment, as well as a advocate for those less fortunate, particularly minorities such as African and Native Americans."

Peter Matthiessen signing copies of his award winning novel "Shadow Country."

To loud applause, Matthiessen took the podium and in thanking Salter referred to his friend's own substantial status as a writer calling him, "One of America's greatest literary stylists." Despite battling some audio difficulties with the church's sound system, Matthiessen went on to read a half dozen excerpts from his 800-page novel, explaining characters and plot circumstances in the process.

At one point in the reading, turning to look up at the altar that towered behind him, he said, "There is one excerpt that I had planned on reading, but now finding myself standing here, I think I'll forgo that particular part," which drew rousing laughter from the audience.

Following the reading there was an very engaged Q&A, in which the author fielded a dozen questions from the audience. As the world now knows the story of this notorious and monumental turn of the 20th century figure, Edgar Watson, because of the fictionalized writing of Matthiessen, we asked the author how he first came upon the character. "I was on a fishing trip when I was seven years old with my father in the Thousand Islands of the Florida Everglades and he pointed to a house down an inlet and said, 'See that house down there, the farmer that lived there was killed by his own neighbors.' It just stuck in my head and was with me for 50 years."

At the conclusion of the Q&A, attendees formed a long line down the aisle to purchase "Shadow Country" and have the author sign his novel in the lobby of the church. Many had arrived with well-worn, dog-eared copies of Matthiessen's others works, which he graciously autographed while making time to chat with each fan individually.

The "Fridays At Five" series will continue each week through Aug. 21 and will include, among others, such authors as Steven Gaines, Julie Andrews and Alec Baldwin.

For more information you can call the library at 631-537-0015 or go to the Hamptons.com community calendar.