The Collected Works of Grey Owl

by Grey Owl

The complete and unabridged Canadian The Men of the Last Frontier, Pilgrims of the Wild, Sajo and the Beaver People

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Memoir, Animals

545 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Grey Owl (or Wa-sha-quon-asin, from the Ojibwe wenjiganoozhiinh, meaning "great horned owl" or "great grey owl") was the name Archibald Belaney adopted when he took on a First Nations identity as an adult. A British native, he was most notable as an author and one of the "most effective apostles of the wilderness". While his writings showed his deep knowledge and concern about the environment, Belaney's account of his origins as "Grey Owl" was mostly fictional. The consequences of the revelation were dramatic. Publishers immediately ceased producing his books under the name Grey Owl. In some cases his books were withdrawn from publication.
(from wikipedia)

Reviews

[Martin Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of three books. I read them consecutively so there’s some obvious crossover with themes which felt repetitive but it doesnt detract from the absorbing and captivating nature of Grey Owl’s writing. Men of the Last Frontier is a general account of life on the trail for a trapper turned conservationist. Pilgrims of the Wild is a more detailed account of his time with Anahareo and two beavers they cared for. Sajo and the Beaver People is more a camp folk tale or children’s adventure story about two Indians and they beaver pets. Where the first two are journals, the final is a fictionalised story but All three have great literary merit. They flow like the rivers he knows with description of great vividity. A beautiful anthology of work and i am sure to read it again some day.

[Anthony Ventrello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not an easy read, but any means. It was obvious from the first few pages, that Archie Grey Owl was an intellectual as well as an avid outdoorsman. The descriptions that his pen write take you deep into the heart of a lost frontier that many of us can only visit in our dreams and in his words. I have read few books that hold on to me as well as this.

[Jason Hogarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at conservation and the relationship between man and nature in Canada during the height of the trappers. A love letter to the First Nations people's, to nature and to the wilderness that many have lost their connection to.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remarkable book by Grey Owl (nee Archibald Belaney), retains its appeal despite the author's complicated personal history. For many years he was shunned and denigrated for the false biographical tale he'd spun around his life. Nevertheless, these three works, first published in the 1930s, are written with a poetic passion and realism that not only symbolizes the author's love of the wild Canadian North, but that also makes us feel that we've somehow experienced it ourselves. Here's just a small sampling:

"We watched the two Vs forging ahead toward the ancient beaver lodge until they disappeared into the dusk. And in the starlight, the wake of their passing made pale rippling bands of silver that spread wide behind them, and touched the shore at last, and so were lost. Once, in answer to a call, a long clear note came back to us, followed by another in a different key. And the two voices blended and intermingled like a part-song in the stillness of the little lonesome pond, and echoed back and forth in the surrounding hills, and faded to a whisper, and died."

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first entry, "The Men of the Last Frontier" and didn't care for the last two entries. The first was astounding, I have never read anything quite like it. The respect, knowledge, admiration, and robustness of the first book made it one of those rare pieces you always hope to find when reading random things (I picked this book up randomly from a shared library at a workplace). No page was boring in the first book, it is remarkable the amount of insight man can have about the unforgiving wilderness when he spends all his time there.

[Beth Oehler]

I didn’t read from cover to cover but wanted to get an idea of his writing style after family visit to Prince Albert National Park.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastic book.

[Murdock Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three weeks ago I posted an article about a beaver killed along the side of the road. Because of curiosity about beavers in North Florida I was led to the book, Grey Owl: Three Complete Works, after I found a reference to it on a website about beavers.

The first book of this trilogy reminds me vaguely of the great book by Jack London, "Call of the Wild". "The Men of the Last Frontier" is packed with such enticing stories titles "On Being Lost" to which I really connected, to "The Still-Hunt".

When I was younger my brother, grandfather and I were stomping around the woods near our home and we lost our directions. I think that was the only time I really felt lost in the woods.
As an adult now I question if my grandfather was really lost or just teaching his grandsons an important lesson on roaming around in the woods.


The second book, "Pilgrims of the Wild" is an excellent story about how Grey Owl and his wife Anahareo are adopted by two beaver kittens. It also explores the need to conserve the land and our natural resources which at the time of its writing was unheard of then.

The final book "Sajo and the Beaver People", is an amazingly beautiful story of an Indian hunter who adopts two beaver kittens and the adventures of how the tribe and hunter soon realize how much the kittens have been endeared to their hearts.

Grey Owl: Three Complete Works has 552 pages and includes some photos of Grey Owl and his wife, Anahareo. I enjoyed reading this book immensely and would recommend it to all readers who enjoy outdoor adventure books.

[Sunflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his original name of course, but he started out as an English aristocrat before he emigrated to Canada to live among the tangata whenua. He really was a man of the last frontier, and his fascination for beavers is both entertaining and educational.