Book Description

The escapades of R. M. Patterson—explorer, rancher and writer—come to life in David Finch’s new biography, R. M. Patterson: A Life of Great Adventure. In a story that combines the lure of gold, the thrill of wilderness exploration and comic tales about life on a southern Alberta ranch, David sketches a fascinating portrait of this great Canadian.

A spirited adventure-seeker, R. M. Patterson left the comforts of British society for untold adventures in Canada. The first person to photograph the falls of the Nahanni, Patterson introduced the world to this now famous river in his book, The Dangerous River.

Authoring a total of five books about his forays into the Canadian wilderness and his life on a southern Alberta ranch, Patterson earned himself legions of fans and made Canada’s wilderness famous.

A skillful historian and storyteller, David Finch combines careful research, charming wit and his passion for the outdoors in this entertaining narrative. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Canadian Paddler Lives on in Finch Biography
In R. M. Patterson: A Life of Great Adventure, historian David Finch brings the famous river explorer back to life. Patterson died at 86 almost twenty years ago, but The Dangerous River, based on his explorations on the South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, remains in print and his most popular work, as fresh today as its setting in the late 1920s. The Finch biography revisits the South Nahanni as well as Patterson's roots in England and his many years in the Canadian Rockies. It traces the events of "a life of great adventure," a theme suggested by Patterson's employer at the Bank of England as he wished Patterson well on his 1924 move to Canada to settle in the Peace River country of northwestern Alberta.

Patterson was more than a river rat. He worked as a logger, a trapper, a prospector, before he began to explore the rivers of the region. He ran a sheep operation near Banff, a dude ranch in the footthills of the Rockies, an orchard on Vancouver Island. All five of Patterson's frequently-autobiographical books remain in print decades after they first appeared.

In his exhaustive studies Finch dug into several archives, interviewed dozens of family members and friends, followed the rivers that Patterson explored, and hiked or rode horseback over Patterson's favorite trails. In this biography, Finch shares with his readers the essence of Patterson that he gleaned during a decade of research and writing. In this reader's mind, he brought Patterson back to life as well as any writer could.

(I met Patterson in his latter years, corresponded with him, and interviewed him. Like Finch, I read all of his books, interviewed Patterson himself, his widow, only daughter, and older son. I had planned to write the biography myself, but Finch beat me to it. He did a fine job. --Verne Huser) ... Read more

Book Description

Shania Twain is not your average country music star, for her appeal extends well beyond country music fans.Millions of music lovers of all types have responded to her singular brand of country-pop, catapulting singles like "You're Still the One" to the top of the charts.Shania has the multi-platinum album sales, she has the high profile, she has the rapt attention of, it seems, the world...and yet she is far more than the sum of these many successes.Growing up in rural Canada amidst great poverty, life was extremely difficult for the young Shania.At age 21, both her parents were killed in a tragic car accident, and she was left to raise three younger siblings alone.The discipline and diligence she was forced to learn served her well in her music career, and provided the basis for her astounding success today.From the cover of Rolling Stone to the cover of Country America, this cross-over wonder has charmed millions around the world, and her fan base continues to grow.Here, finally is her whole story, complete with never-before-seen photos and insider information.This is book Shania fans have been waiting for. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The real Shania
Just finished reading the new book on Shania and, despite having read everything under the sun that I can find about her, I learned a lot. I'm glad the writer didn't just make her out to be too-good-to-be-true nor did he make her out to be a totally bad person. I think what comes through is that she's a hard working and very ambitious and very talented(!!) person who had to fight the system to make it. She may have made a few bad decisions along the way, but she never stopped believing in herself. I find that truly inspirational. The book is well-balanced and factual. As a fan, I don't expect someone only to show the good side of someone, and I hate the kinds of books that only show the bad side. This book has a lot of insider quotes, a lot of information that is fresh and new, and most of all an interesting and insightful perspective on why Shania made it when others don't. I appreciated the background information on the music industry, and the knowledge that Shania really had to fight for herself and her music in order to become a star rather than a one-hit wonder. I think there's a lesson in there for all of us. I know there was for me.

This is not Shania Twain!!
I have to agree with many of the reviews I have read about this book, there is nothing new, nothing different and nothing nice. The author repeats himself way too much and contradicts himself. At one time he is bashing her and the next saying that its easy to see why she is adored. I love Shania Twain and I felt like reading this book was just as bad as reading all the articles of people that love to bash her. Also, I agree that the author should have done a little more research instead of creating more rumors. Next time, try talking to Shania herself, thats the only book I want to read. I have read all the other books about Shania and they are so much more worthy. I will say one good thing, the info that is true in this book is written well, but I dont recommend buying it.

Same old...same old...
I thought this book was more or less a summary of the other three books about Shania that I have read. It did have a few new things that I did not know and the pictures in the book are great, but I wish it wouldn't have bashed her on one page and then prasied her on another. I give it four stars just because I love Shania and I really would read anything about her.

it was ok
i think this book was ok, but it was better than the one by dallas williams, and way worse than the one by barbara hager.

if you're gonna write a biography, you should interview the person for the book (or research a little, and not writing it on rumors).

over all, i guess it was an ok book

Could Have Been Better....
I am a come lately fan of Shania's and I was excited when I found the last copy of this at a local bookstore. The book was packaged as having some new and interesting insights on her life and work. Personally, I didn't like it. It was simply a patchwork collection of old articles and rumors. He painted her in contradictory shades of hometown girl and calculating megastar. One has a hard time believeing that the woman he writes as being very in touch with her roots is also the kind of woman that would fire a faithful friend, by way of Fed Express. I think he should have enlisted the help of friends and Shania insiders in compiling his information in this book. There are some very nice pictures of Shania, but I think the boast that they were never before seen photos are also inaccurate. All in all I don't reccommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Lilies and Fireweed is packed with unforgettable stories of women surviving in the unforgiving, sometimes hostile environment of pioneer and aboriginal British Columbia. Based on award-winning journalist Stephen Hume's popular series "Frontier Women of BC" that appeared in the Vancouver Sun in 2002, this collection of essays contains stories, photographs and other materials that have never before been published.From hospitals to dance halls, and from the classroom to the cannery floor, this insightful pictorial history examines indigenous and immigrant women's positions in the workplace, home and wilderness. Hume delves into the lives of aboriginal and pioneer women who had an important and multifaceted influence on the development of British Columbia.We meet women such as 17-year-old Frances Barkley, who insisted on accompanying her husband on a merchant voyage to British Columbia in 1786 and subsequently twice circumnavigated the world; Lady Amelia Douglas - a Cree woman and wife of Governor James Douglas - who had her own important but often overlooked role in the forging of British Columbia; Mrs. Washiji Oya, the first Japanese woman to settle in Canada in 1887; and Maria Pollard Grant, who, in 1895, became the first woman elected to public office in BC.Brimming with fascinating historical photographs, Lilies and Fireweed brings to light the forgotten stories of mothers, dance-hall girls, artists, teachers and adventurers that are as enthralling and diverse as BC itself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first white man to cross North America, Scottish-born Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) was typical of his generation of explorers: this bold adventurer who surveyed the untamed wilderness with impressive accuracy was also a hardheaded businessman who ventured into unknown Canadian territory in search of profits from fur trading. Canadian historian Barry Gough admires Mackenzie's toughness and daring without glossing over the towering ego and knack for self-promotion that won him a knighthood from England in 1802. First Across the Continent is another enjoyable entry in the University of Oklahoma's WesternBiographies series. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Factual narrative
Pretty good book.Gives a rather matter-of-fact account of MacKenzie's life.Not alot of detail or passion in either of his 2 great voyages.Interesting in all the other people brought into the story.Now I want toread about Peter Pond, MacKenzies' predecessor.Short and a quick read. ... Read more

Book Description

Published from the manuscript copy in the National Archives, Eunice Harrison's memoir of life in British Columbia from 1860 to 1906 offers one of the earliest accounts of the province by a woman. With verve and humour she describes everyday life in early Victoria and Vancouver.

As a young woman, she travelled across the Strait in the tugboat Etta White to make music, take part in theatricals and witness a Native ceremonial dance. After her marriage to Eli Harrison, a well known circuit court judge, she travelled the Cariboo road with her husband, recording her impressions of justice being meted out in the rough, pioneer world of the BC Interior. Her account of the social customs of the day, through the eyes of a woman, is both acute and in structive. The memoir concludes with her experience of the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire which she lived through while on a visit to the city with her two young children. Her account of the destruction and chaos she witnessed as she made her way to safety through the burning city makes for gripping reading. The Judge's Wife includes many historic photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Better Bios Out There
Rose Collis' bio of k.d. lang isn't bad, but there are better. It's a short, breezy read, although Collis' attempts to be saucy can get a bit wearing over time. There's not a lot of depth of information here, and the book shows signs of having been hastily edited. But as a basic introduction to the career of lang up to 1999 (pre-Endless Summer), it'll do. ... Read more

Book Description

Starting in the 1800s and continuing into the 20th century, First Nations children were forcibly taken to government-sponsored residential schools to erase their traditional languages and cultures. This moving book tells of one such child, author Larry Loyie, and his last summer with his Cree tribe. It is a time of learning and adventure. He cares for an abandoned baby owl, watches his grandmother make winter moccasins, and sees her kill a huge grizzly with one shot. The sensitive text and Heather Holmlund's expressive illustrations beautifully capture the joy and drama of a First Nations family's last summer together. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A remarkable book
This is a remarkable book. It is a primary account of a child's life growing up in Montana and Canada in the early part of the twentieth century. Margaret (Peggy) Bell's life spanned some 94 years, from 1888-1982, and her story is as exciting and troubling as any account one is likely to read, fiction or non-fiction. That the book is edited by Mary Clearman Blew makes it not only highly readable but lends it undeniable credibility.

Bell's account of growing up on the high plains of Montana and Canada is a rare, first person account of life on the frontier with it's numerous hardships, grinding poverty, and ultimate struggle to retain her mind and spirit that will break your heart and make you shout for joy...sometimes within a few paragraphs or pages. In a straight forward, honest, almost stoic manner she describes the many life lessons she learned and discusses a subject that is rarely seen in print in the literature of the period: the abuse, sexual and otherwise, she experienced at the hands of her uncle and stepfather. This is an amazing book that chronicles the life experiences of a resilient woman in a man's world that lived to understand who she was, where she came from, and what it all meant. That she could tell such a story without self pity or sentimental, touchy-feely themes is remarkable. Brutally frank, honest and ultimately uplifting. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A compendium of concise biographical sketches
Very highly recommended reading, Potlatch People: Indian Lives And Legends Of British Columbia by Mildred Valley Thornton is a compendium of concise biographical sketches drawn from the Native American people of British Columbia, as well as fascinating legends and traditions. Illustrated with artwork portraits of those portrayed offer a uniquely human-centered insight into a rich native culture and folklore. Potlatch People is an informed and informative addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies supplemental reading lists and reference collections. ... Read more

Book Description

The essays in this volume -- which grew out of a conference commemorating the Oregon Treaty of 1846 -- view the boundary between Canada and the United States as a dividing line and also as a regional backbone, with people on each side having key experiences and attitudes in common. In their eloquence and scope, they illustrate how historical study of Canadian-American relations in the West calls into question the parameters of the nation-state.

Essays consider both the nineteenth century, when the international border had limited power to restrict the movement of Native peoples, of financial capital, or of settlersí racist attitudes, and the strengthened boundary of the twentieth century, with its disputes over salmon runs, free trade, and World War II defense. Essays also explore the ways in which Canada and the United States have defined and preserved wilderness, the 1840s dispute over the Oregon Country, and U.S. attitudes that have provoked anti-Americanism in Canada.

The U.S.--Canadian border has meant different things to different people, and those meanings have changed over time, but the situation today is the evolution of cross-border integration that took place in the past, and each side of this borderlands region remains, in part, the creation of the other. ... Read more

Book Description

From his boyhood days through his adulthood as a trapper, guide, naturalist, and outdoorsman, Andy Russell lived a lifestyle that would be near-impossible today. Growing up in the Northern Rockies in a "land of boots and saddles, guns and fishing rods, and the smell of pines and grass," he observed the ways of animals wild and tame, braved rugged mountaintops and freezing rivers. He forged friendships with the local Indians and with the "remittance men," second sons of British aristocracy who left their stamp on the new country with ready cash and a zest for high living. Here are thrilling and humorous tales of breaking horses, hunting bears, and living proud and free, told in a naturally eloquent voice. (51/2 X 81/4, 320 pages, b&w photos) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A GREAT ADVENTURE
I don't usually write book reviews, but as I came across this book for sale on Amazon, it brought back wonderful memories. I purchased this book back in 1973. I loved it then and I love it now. I re-read it for maybe the fifth time. I decided to write this reveiw.
I am not well educated or well traveled, but I know adventure when I read it and this book is of a great adventure. It is a group of short stories written by Andy Russell, who was born in 1915, more importantly at the foot of the Great Rockies mountains in southwestern Alberta Canada.
He describes his childhood growing up on a farm there, where he learned very young how to take care of himself. Fishing, hunting and trapping in a country of great beauty, that he describes as no one else could. Some stories are of breaking, riding and training horses. This is a book for someone who loves animals and the great outdoors, and especially for someone who loves adventure. His travels take him from the farms of the great plains to the beautiful mountains of the west and north to the cold of the frozen tunda. It is also about animals small and large, from weasels and minks to bears and elk, as well as fishing, the kind of which is very hard to find these days. There are stories told around camp fires, of cowboys and of the English Remittance men. Thrills vary from forest fires to the stalking of a trophy elk.
He went on to become a great guide of the Rockies, both for hunting and for those who hunt with a camera. This is a great adventure and a must read. If you read this book you should also read another book by him called "Grizzly Country". It is said by many to be one of the best books ever written about bears, both from the scientific point of view and by someone who was a conservationalist and a naturalist. I love bears and I loved that book also. I loved them both. I hope to read other by him. Enjoy and thank you Andy Russell.

True stories from the West
Trails Of A Wilderness Wanderer are true stories from the West blending the autobiography of an outdoorsman with accounts of living in the wild places of the Rockies, following old trails and meeting hunters and explorers. An absorbing outdoorsman's diary filled with nature and observations of the wild.

Outstanding storyteller of the Canadian Frontier
Mr. Russell takes you back to the early days when only Indians and bears roamed the land, through his youth and adulthood as an outdoorsman in the wilds of early Canada. He tells of living a life we can only dream of now. The people he writes of were real and made Canada what it is today. I have reread this book almost yearly since it came out in 1971. You will feel as if you have walked his trails with him and love the life he led. An excellent gift for the city-bound outdoorsman!!!

Good book. Why not publish a complete set of his works?
Good book. Would like to see a complete set of his works as well as a biography written by one of his cronies, or an outdoor-life chronicler. ... Read more