Est: The Story of a Bear, Twice-told

by Brian Barrie

‘EST’ is a story of a Bear with an attitude. In the winter months he terrorized a mountain village, gaining the reputation as the scari-EST, ornery-EST, mean-EST bear that ever lived.

Two village children challenged him, by journeying up the mountain, where a fateful confrontation occurred: “You foolish little bits and bites. I am going to eat you up and clean my teeth with your bones, ‘EST roared.

It depends on whose version you believe, who prevailed. The children, spoke through their conduct and were celebrated by the villagers and their countrymen for inventing skiing. A subdued bear claims he inspired the invention. Read the book to your children and let them decide.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Bonita Johnson deMatteis.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2011

About the author

Brian Barrie lives on Lake Huron, his horizon encircled by fishing islands until backlit by the Red Bay sunsets - a gathering place for a vibrant family life. He graduated from the Royal Miltary College in 1969 and, while serving in Gagetown, obtained a Master’s degree in English, specializing in Canadian literature, from the University of New Brunswick, before pursuing his law degree from Queen's University In Kingston, graduating in 1976. The call of Lake Huron and the unfailing support of his young wife afforded him the choice to establish a trial practice in Owen Sound Ontario, where for 40 years he was privileged to be accepted into a world of wonder and crisis, where strangers entrusted him with their causes, their fight for freedom, their financial survival and granted him access to their innermost fears and hopes. These were the living stories that provided motivation and instruction beyond books and cemented lasting relationships between a lawyer and his client. From a small town practice Brian Barrie defended 13 individuals charged with murder, acted for the Deputy Chief of Defence in the Somalia inquiry and three families who lost loved ones in the Walkerton Water crisis, among other things. As well, he served two terms on the board of directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. In his last trial, Superior Court Justice Conlan made note of Mr. Barrie’s legal contributions, referring to him in his written judgement “ as one of the best barristers to ever practise law in the Counties of Grey and Bruce”. But Brian Barrie could not still his passion for writing, while practising law. He published four books for children or youth between 2007 and 2019, which have been cherished by local Owen Sound readers. See www.brianbarrie.com to learn more about these titles, their story lines and their reviews. And now he has written a true life murder mystery ( ‘Four Bullets, Four Witnesses, Four Liars’ ), based on his second murder trial, which has won praise from jurists and the readers of true crime novels, alike. As Brian Barrie said: “ Every human life carries with it a unique and noble story worth telling and there are so many more stories that still need telling.”