In the Shadow of a Rainbow: The True Story of a Friendship Between Man and Wolf

by Robert Franklin Leslie

Reveals a young Indian's bond with a she wolf and her pack and his efforts to protect them from hunters

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Wolves, Memoir, Nature, Native American, Wilderness

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[VJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a remarkable story about the bond between man and wolf. I love how Tah-Kloma shared a detailed account of his encounters with Nahani -- an enormous silver wolf with a bounty on her head -- and his growing understanding of her and her pack's behavior, the way she led them and delegated tasks on them, and how Tah-Kloma learned the meaning behind the slightest whimper, the flick of an ear, the wagging of tail, the bending of a knee, etc., as Nahani taught him how a wolf communicates and thinks.

I have fallen in love with this wolf myself, which I deem to be of exceptional intelligence and although very wild, hungered for human affection. I just wish there's an accessible documentation about the real Nahani and the real Tah-Kloma on Google, but you can't find anything about them as the author has concealed the real identities of the people written about in the book.

The title however is just wonderful, although I thought not at first, but after learning where it came from and how there is such poetry in it, I thought it to be very apt:

"In Youngpine's native Penutian legend there is an old saw that explains witch-doctors' magic: when anything strengthens a bond of friendship, Chimmesyans say the friends have walked in the shadow of a rainbow."

Simply beautiful!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book maybe 20 years ago and it's remained as one of the top books I've ever read.
I loaned it to a boyfriend along with an equally important book, "Sounder", and never got them back; never missed the guy but mourned the loss of my books ever since.
Sounder was not the dog book, but a book about a mother whale and her calf written from the whale's point of view. I'll be searching for it on goodreads next.
Rats! Could not find my "Sounder." If anyone knows of this book (could I have the name wrong?), Please let me know.

[Terri Kempton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting enough account of a Native man in the 60's who befriends a notorious matriarch wolf in the wilds of British Columbia. Lots of day-to-day details on hiking, camping, tracking, and wolf pack interactions. The narrator includes quotes from the man's journal he kept during this three-year trek. I kept wishing that kid in Into the Wild had hung out with this resourceful survivalist for a while before living in the bus....

[Robin Reichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without question, this is the most beautiful book I have ever read. Whether you are already a lover of Earth and her creatures, or if you wish to find greater appreciation, Read. This. Book! I have listed most of Robert's other books as "Want to Read" and look forward to reading the next one soon. I imagine his love for our amazing planet and the creatures we share it with will shine through. I wish he was still alive so I could thank him! May the wisdom of Greg and Nahani give us pause to consider what we lose each time we revile a culture that is different from us.

[Jesse Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of the outdoors, I really enjoyed this book. It is quite remarkable how a man was able to form a friendship with the leader of a pack of wolves. Even more impressive was how he was able to track these wolves over vast amounts of land for several years. The book is even blessed with an enemy, the evil Trapper Dan, who wants to take down the lead wolf for the bounty that is placed on her hide.

[Jason Leathem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. I had one of the original copies that my mom passed to me. Was on a plane, just starting to read this book, then passed out and found the book stolen. It only took the first two chapters to realize that I needed to buy another copy, which i did. So happy I ordered the book, was a great read, and living in Terrace BC area helped so much as I knew the areas that Greg hiked. This was a very epic read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW Yeah 5 stars for a book about a man and a wolf. About half way thru this, I still was skeptical about how true it was. Then it started to pull me in and became a believer by the end, I always disliked the trapping of animals but am now a HATER of such. A really wonderful book to read, Made a very nice day even nicer.

[Zackary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing and beautiful account of understanding another species characteristics through respect and compassion, wherein resulting in a unexpected, found love amongst two different beings. Incredible that it's a true story all the same!

[Robert B Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life, I bought me closer to the "thing" I was looking for? If you know what I mean, I was a child of the environmental movement in the '70's, This book took me to where I wanted to be, for most of my life. Read it.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite when I was a child, this book still stirs emotions in me.
The story of a friendship between man and wolf is always fascinating to a child; as a grown up, I'm equally fascinated by the journey of a lonely man (a boy really) on foot, across the wildest areas of Canada

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book that was sent to me by my old adventure-racing teammate from Australia. Kind of old school, basically the writer wrote the story from the notes and memory of the guy who lived it. Most interesting to me was the observations on the body language of the wolves and how they maintained social cohesion. I also liked being transported away from my cozy apartment to sleeping in a musty sleeping bag on a a sand bank in Canada next to the wolves' den, and not being a single mosquito-bite worse for the wear.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've ha this on my shelf for years and never picked it up until this week. I wish I had read it then too. What a wonderful thing between human an earth as well as earths creatures. When the wild touches our "Civil" lives in a peaceful gentle way we can learn a lot. This is beautiful book I rea it in two days- BEAUTIFUL!

[Roberto Galindo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book, perfect details of the geography of the region, spotless biology, and well researched connections between this man and nature. Top 10 books I've read, it has everything, well no romance. A little quick to end but it does have an epigraph that let's you finish the story however you wish. It was a beauty from cover to cover.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love wolves and wilderness stories than you will enjoy this. I really did like it, but there were a few parts that were slow and dragged and for awhile there I worried the story was going to be more about Greg and his conflict with Trapper-Dan. was always great when Nahani was present.

[Lexi Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story of Greg and Náhini’s unique friendship! If you are an outdoors person , nature enthusiast, animal lover this is a terrific read and also if you enjoy stories of animal and human bonds! This book was cool, gratifying and venturing!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bond between the man and the wolf is unbelievable! I didn't know that kind of friendship could exist.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a young Indian man who befriended a silver wolf. Becoming one of the pack as such, by respecting her and allowing her to discover that not all men are killers of her pack.
I have been to British Columbia but not to the areas described in the book. How I would have liked to be able to trek through and enjoy the wilderness, but something tells me Greg's hikes across perilous terrain would certainly have turned me back.
It reminded me a lot of Silver Chief novel, where a man befriends a wild wolf.

Excellent reading.

[Mary Thomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent well written and inspiring book

[JEAN SCOTT]

LOVE this one! Read it decades ago. Great Native story of a friendship with a wild wolf.
The Book Jacket is a splendid illustration for one's imagination!!

[Andy Shakeshaft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading and visualising the openness of the mountain ranges and camping spots, especially during the lockdown.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an old story and one that is intriguing. I have to wonder how much is true and how much is storytelling.

[Ella Borlaug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sykt fin bok. Elsker den!
Lånt av farmor<3

[Jonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a unique and fascinating glimpse into life lived in deep wilderness. It was a fun read that kept amazing me at every turn.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to believe that anyone would go through the hardships described to befriend a wolf.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book.

[Claire Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in middle school (twice!) and over the years forgot the title, but I never forgot this book. I thought it was amazing then and it probably still is. I need to read it again now that I've FINALLY found the title, thanks to this website! (Remembering only "Rainbow" doesn't work well with Google)

[Vani Kannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my very favorite books. A beautiful story written in quiet prose, set in the Canadian wilderness.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is downright fantastic! Really transportive and gorgeous.

[Toesnorth's mom]

true story about wolves, excellent