What do you think?
Rate this book
Sam Patch: Ballad of a Jumping Man
Bruin, a tame bear, tells the story of his owner, Sam Patch, an adventurer in 1820s America
- GenresFiction
361 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 1986
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 15, 2019
Upon rereading “Sam Patch” after a thirty year hiatus, I am reminded what a gem of American literature this novel is. William Getz has a great feel for portraying the post-colonial roughness of a nation trying to find its footing. With Davy Crockett in Congress and Andrew Jackson running for President, the titular character fits right in as he boldly proves that he can make a future for himself doing what he does best, that being leaping off of high waterfalls and surviving. While the rough hewn humor of the tale might seem a bit too raucous for some readers, Mr. Getz provides the right voice to accurately comment on the surrounding events. His adroit insight is so spot on that the reader doesn’t flinch at the realization that narrator is an American Black Bear. I am definitively looking forward to reading it again in another 30 years.
August 13, 2014
One of my all-time favorite books. I have recommended it to lots of people.
It's charmingly narrated by a black bear with a philosophical bent. It's about his relationship with Sam Patch, a man of no particular career, who eventually falls into his life's work of jumping off tall things in front of crowds.
It's charmingly narrated by a black bear with a philosophical bent. It's about his relationship with Sam Patch, a man of no particular career, who eventually falls into his life's work of jumping off tall things in front of crowds.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews