Otherwise

by Farley Mowat

Book Overview

A Canadian icon gives us his final book, a memoir of the events that shaped this beloved writer and activist.

Farley Mowat has been beguiling readers for fifty years now, creating a body of writing that has thrilled two generations, selling literally millions of copies in the process. In looking back over his accomplishments, we are reminded of his groundbreaking work: He single-handedly began the rehabilitation of the wolf with Never Cry Wolf. He was the first to bring advocacy activism on behalf of the Inuit and their northern lands with People of the Deer and The Desperate People. And his was the first populist voice raised in defense of the environment and of the creatures with whom we share our world, the ones he has always called The Others.

Otherwise is a memoir of the years between 1937 and the autumn of 1948 that tells the story of the events that forged the writer and activist. His was an innocent childhood, spent free of normal strictures, and largely in the company of an assortment of dogs, owls, squirrels, snakes, rabbits, and other wildlife. From this, he was catapulted into wartime service, as anxious as any other young man of his generation to get to Europe and the fighting. The carnage of the Italian campaign shattered his faith in humanity forever, and he returned home unable and unwilling to fit into post-war Canadian life. Desperate, he accepted a stint on a scientific collecting expedition to the Barrengrounds. There in the bleak but beautiful landscape he finds his purpose -- first with the wolves and then with the indomitable but desperately starving Ihalmiut. Out of these experiences come his first pitched battles with an ignorant and uncaring federal bureaucracy as he tries to get aid for the famine-stricken Inuit. And out of these experiences, too, come his first books.

Otherwise goes to the heart of who and what Farley Mowat is, a wondrous final achievement from a true titan.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 077106490X
• ISBN13: 9780771064906
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

The Mystery of Mowat

Mowat's masterful adventure-telling skills remain intact. His knack for poignant detail is undiminished. I could not put the book down, and for days now after finishing, I still cannot stop pondering the mystery of this man, tenacious defender of wildlife, who throughout his life plunged head-first into frightful situations. In the abrupt final few pages of this book Mowat described a wolf den he crawled into, found occupied, and successfullly scrambled out of. What followed was for me a devastating emotional ambush as he disclosed the unnecessary and incomprensible violence he inflicted against the wolf and pups still inside. I no longer knew this man. Perhaps Farley has grown weary of adulation. I suspect that incident is one of his most personally painful. It certainly has been painful for me. I keep probing for a way to feel otherwise.

GREAT JOB AGAIN MR MOWAT

FARLEY NEVER FAILS TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M RIGHT THERE WITH HIM ON HIS ADVENTURES. I WISH I WERE 20 YEARS YOUNGER, I WOULD TAKE OFF FOR THE CANADIAN BARRENS MYSELF TO EXPERIENCE IT FIRST HAND. HOWEVER I'VE GOT FARLEY AT MY ARM CHAIR SIDE TO TAKE ME ALONG. GREAT READ NEVER WANT TO PUT IT DOWN!