Book description
In 1931 Grey Owl published his first book, The Men of the Last
Frontier, a work that is part memoir, part history of the
vanishing wilderness in Canada, and part compendium of animal and
First Nations tales and lore. A passionate, compelling appeal for the
protection and preservation of the natural environment pervades Grey
Owls words and makes his literary debut still ring with great
relevance in the 21st century.
By the 1920s, Canadas outposts of adventure had been thrust farther
and farther north to the remote margins of the country. Lumbermen,
miners, and trappers invaded the primeval forests, seizing on natures
wealth with soulless efficiency. Grey Owl himself fled before the
assault as he witnessed his valleys polluted with sawmills, his hills
dug up for hidden treasure, and wildlife, particularly his beloved
beavers, exterminated for quick fortunes.
The features of this book such as pictures, poetry quotations by Lord
Byron, Longfellow, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc. and the order of
presentation, produce a readable and informative book that is not
designed as a textbook, but could easily be used as one.
Grey Owl
(1888-1938), an Englishman, immigrated to Canada as Archibald Belaney
in 1906 and quickly constructed an identity as a Native, assuming the
Ojibwa name Wa-sha-quon-asin. He was world-renowned for his work as
Canada's pioneer conservationist and spread his message of
preservation through multiple bestsellers, including Tales of an
Empty Cabin and The Adventures of Sajo and Her Beaver People.
James Polk has written on Grey Owl and other animal-story writers in
articles, reviews, and a book, Wilderness Writers. The former
editorial director of House of Anansi Press, he was publishing policy
adviser in the Ontario government and is the author of a novel, short
stories, and a play. He lives in Toronto.
