Carcajou

by Rutherford G. Montgomery

Through the pages of this book stalks the mightiest of the wilderness villains, a freebooter and a bully, a bandit who knows nothing of fear. Kin to the weasel, Carcajou the wolverine has the weasel's strength and cunning one hundred times multiplied. Rutherford Montgomery tells what happens when Carcajou, the unconquerable, tangles with a young Indian trapper and his pet grizzly bear.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Childrens

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1936

About the author

Rutherford George Montgomery
Also published as Everitt Proctor, Al Avery, Art Elder, A.A. Avery and E.P. Marshall.

Montgomery was born in Straubville, Sargent County, North Dakota, "a true ghost town" as of 2005. to George Y. and Matilda Proctor Montgomery. He studied at Colorado Agricultural College, Western State College of Colorado, and University of Nebraska; taught elementary school in Hot Springs, Wyoming; and from 1917 to 1919 served in the United States Air Corps. During the 1920s, he worked as a teacher and principal at junior and senior high schools in Montrose County, Colorado.

Montgomery married Eunice Opal Kirks in 1930; they had three children. He served Gunnison County, Colorado, as a judge from 1931 to 1936 and as county commissioner from 1932 to 1938, then became a freelance writer.

While still at school, Montgomery began writing stories about the wild animals that lived around his family's farm. He went on to write books about aviation and the people, landscapes and animals of the American West, particularly horses. In all, he wrote more than 100 books.

From 1941 to 1946, Montgomery was a writer for Dick Tracy. He worked as a creative writing teacher 1955–57 and as a scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios 1958–1962.

From Wikipedia

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wolverine personified as a smart, capable, and flawed foe of all the animals and men in the wilderness is pitted against the elements as he is flatened into the bbackground while the narrative focuses on the conflict a trader and some indians make over a domesticated bear. Mixed with lessons, an interesting read indeed but the character the book is named for is peripheral to anthropocentric concerns and limitations.

[Jayce Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I’d read as a child, and it’s the only one that I’ve felt the need to reread as an adult, and I’m so glad that I did. Typically I stick with zombie and post apocalyptic genres when reading, but being that survival and wilderness isn’t too far off, it filled my interests, and this was an amazing read. I’ll be passing this one onto my kids, and I even have the first edition!

[Katie-Ellen Hazeldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet the devilishly determined Carcajou the Wolverine...now wouldn't he be a challenge for the Honey Badger. Kindred souls. This book was conceived as a boy's adventure book, 9-12 year olds, and if so, those boys were sophisticated readers indeed, and where is that bar set now?

Canny, ruthless white trappers want the beloved bear, Mr Jim, and hope carcajou's vandal antics will deliver Mr Jim into their hands, asserting their legal claim to his pelt, far richer than pine martens.

Good wins out, but the means by which it wins demands the same determination as that elemental force, Carcajou himself.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Jack London, Montgomery's tales are about the wild north woods. In this story the young Indian trapper and his pet grizzly, Mister Jim, meet and match wits with the devilishly intelligent Carcajou.
Told with sympathy and understanding this is a wonderful adventure story from Carcajou's point of view.

[Oreon · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://whatsread.pp.ua/work/5305
Мені повість сподобалася: єднання з природою, суворий північний край, самобутнє життя місцевих індіанців, ручний добродушний ведмідь... Книга життєстверджуюча, показуються традиційні загальнолюдські цінності, на тлі підлості, жадібності та користолюбства двох білих. З цікавого боку показується і білий закон, він начебто й правильний і незаперечний, але якийсь він.. відірваний від дійсності.

Так, можливо автор трохи і відходить від реальності у своїй історії: в описі поведінки Містера Джима, ручного ведмедя, росомахи чи чудового порятунку від лавини, але в автора це виходить напрочуд реалістично, не натягнуто, що йому так і хочеться вірити, хоча деякі епізоди важко можна уявити. Окремо хочеться згадати росомаху - по-індіанському каркаджу - тут це повноцінний герой першого плану, від чиєї особи розповідь ведеться добру третину книги. Тут це злісне створення, владар лісу, що не зупиняється і не лякається перед будь-якою загрозою, не пасує перед любою небезпекою. Хоч цей звірок і злобний, і вредний, але до нього зовсім інакше ставишся, не так як до білих пройдисвітів.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

My cousin, Rodney Manning, told me about this book, so it led to my reading it. Don't remember much now.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story. Perfectly enjoyable for adults as well as children to read. The Wolverine is a fascinating animal and I have learned much.

[Ken Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it as a boy

[Michael Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed a re-read of this book by Rutherford G. Montgomery, which I first read as a teen. Great story of trapping in the Canadian North!