Дивото куче Казан

Kazan and Baree #1

by James Oliver Curwood, Джеймс Кърууд, А.Ю. Тотев (Translator)

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

Genres: Animals, Classics, Fiction, Adventure, Wolves, Nature, Young Adult

191 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1914

About the author

Born in Owosso, Michigan he left high school without graduating but was able to pass the entrance exams to the University of Michigan where he studied journalism. In 1900, Curwood sold his first story while working for the Detroit News-Tribune. By 1909 he had saved enough money to travel to the Canadian northwest, a trip that provided the inspiration for his wilderness adventure stories. The success of his novels afforded him the opportunity to return to the Yukon and Alaska for several months each year that allowed him to write more than thirty such books.

By 1922, Curwood's writings had made him a very wealthy man and he fulfilled a childhood fantasy by building Curwood Castle in Owosso. Constructed in the style of an 18th century French chateau, the estate overlooked the Shiawassee River. In one of the home's two large turrets, Curwood set up his writing studio. Curwood also owned a camp in a remote area in Baraga County, Michigan, near the Huron Mountains.

An advocate of environmentalism, Curwood was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. The following year, while on a Florida fishing trip, Curwood was bitten on the thigh by what was believed to have been a spider and had an immediate allergic reaction. Health problems related to the bite escalated over the next few months and infection set in that led to his death from blood poisoning.

Interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Owosso, his Curwood Castle is now a museum. During the first full weekend in June of each year, the city of Owosso holds the Curwood Festival to celebrate the city's heritage . Also in his honor, a mountain in L'Anse Township, Michigan was given the name Mount Curwood, and the L'Anse Township Park was renamed Curwood Park.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kazan is a dog of the Canadian north woods, 3/4 husky and 1/4 wolf. He has been cruelly treated by the men in his life, and when he meets the wife of his new owner, Kazan learns for the first time the power of love. But he is not going to be allowed to live happily ever after with his new boss and his new love. Fate arranges adventures for him that left me holding my breath, almost afraid to find out what would happen next. And every time I expected Kazan's life to settle down, there was Fate again, poking his nose in and complicating everything.

This is an intense story set in the real world of Nature. You will feel you are in the great North woods in blizzards, forest fires, starvation times, fighting for your life against...well, nearly every other creature you meet. Will you ever experience again the Power of Love? You must head north into the woods with Kazan to learn the answer to that question.

[Farzana Raisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

এত্তো সুন্দর একটা বই! কাযান যদিও কুকুর, ওর দেহে বইছে নেকড়ের রক্তও। কাজেই, দুই ধরণের পশুর বৈশিষ্ট্য ওর রন্ধ্রে রন্ধ্রে। জীবনের একটা অংশে কাযান ছিল মানুষের সাথে। সেখানে পেয়েছে মানুষের আদর-যত্ন, মমতা। ও হ্যা... কথা না শুনার অপরাধে গদার আঘাতও খেয়েছে সে। একমাত্র অই জিনিস্টার জন্যই মানুষ 'একটু' কম পছন্দ। আবার তার নেকড়ে সত্ত্বাটা কেবল খালি পালাই পালাই করে। মন চায় বুনো জঙ্গলে স্বাধীন হয়ে বাঁচতে। জ্যোৎস্নার আলোয় যখন চরাচর ভেসে যেতে থাকে কাযানের মন তখন কেমন করে উঠে। মানুষকেও এড়াতে পারে না, না পারে বুনো জীবনকে অস্বীকার করে থাকতে। এক দ্বৈত সত্ত্বায় খাবি খেতে খেতে জীবনের পথে এগিয়ে যেতে থাকে সে।

ওর জীবনে আসে নানান ধরণের নারী। মানবী নারী দেয় ভালোবাসা আর সঙ্গীনী নারী নেকড়ে ওর জীবনে এনে দেয় পরিপূর্ণতা। কাযানের জীবনের উত্থানপতন আর নানান নাটকীয়তা নিয়ে বই কাযান দ্য উলফ ডগ। সত্যি বলছি! শেষ অংশে চোখ দিয়ে পানি না আসলেও চোখের কোণে ঠিক পানি চিকচিক করে উঠবে। বইয়ের পাতায় কতোই রগরগে থ্রিলার পড়ে থাকি.. সত্যি বলতে কী.. এসব অরণ্যচারীর জীবনটাই তো মস্ত থ্রিলার। প্রকৃতির সাথে প্রতিদিন, প্রতি মুহূর্ত যুদ্ধ করে বেঁচে থাকা। আমার বার বার জ্যাক লন্ডনের হোয়াইট ফ্যাং বইটার কথা মনে হচ্ছিল। কাযান দ্য উলফ ডগ-বইটার অসাধারণ অনুবাদ করেছেন মো. ফুয়াদ আল ফিদাহ।

[A. Rahman Bishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

নানা ধরণের থ্রিলারের জোয়ারে একটু ভিন্ন ধাঁচের বই নিয়ে আলোচনা আজকাল তেমন চোখে পড়ে না। কিছু ক্লাসিক বই নিয়ে আলোচনা চললেও মাঝে মাঝেই মনে হয় বিশ্বসাহিত্যের এত এত বইয়ের মধ্যে হয়তো সিংহভাগ রত্নই চোখ এড়িয়ে গেছে, কিংবা যাচ্ছে। ঠিক এমনই একটা বই, কাযান।

মানব প্রবৃত্তি উপজীব্য করে লেখা বইয়ের সংখ্যা অগণিত। প্রায় সব ঘরানার বইয়েই তা থাকে মুখ্য কিংবা অন্যতম প্রধান উপাদান হিসেবে। সে তুলনায় অন্যান্য প্রাণীদের ঘিরে পাক খাওয়া কাহিনীর সংখ্যাটা বেশ কম। হাতে গুনে বলে দেয়া যায় এ ধরনের পরিচিত বইগুলোর নাম। সেদিক থেকে ‘কাযান দ্য উলফ ডগ’ একটা চমৎকার সংযোজন বটে। এই বইয়ের প্রধান চরিত্র কাযান। গায়ে তিন চতুর্থাংশ কুকুরের রক্ত হলেও বাকিটুকু এসেছে নেকড়ে থেকে। তাই প্রাণীটার মাঝে গৃহবাসী প্রবৃত্তি যেমন রয়েছে, তেমনি রয়েছে আদিম-বুনো প্রবৃত্তি। দুই প্রবৃত্তির টানাপোড়ন কীভাবে একটা কুকুরের (নাকি নেকড়ে?) জীবনটাকে নিয়ন্ত্রণ করেছে, করছে কিংবা করতে পারে-চমৎকারভাবে তাই ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন লেখক।
একাকীত্ব, নাকি দাসত্ব? ভালোবাসার মানবী, নাকি বুনো সঙ্গী? স্লেজটানা একটা কুকুর কি নিদারুণ আক্রোশে নির্বিচারে খুন করতে থাকে শত্রু প্রজাতির সদস্যদের-দেখে অবাক হতে হয়। অন্যদিকে আবার সর্বোচ্চটা দিয়ে রক্ষা করে যায় প্রিয় মানুষকে নিজের সন্তানকে। প্রকৃতির নানা প্রতিকুলতা, নানা বিপর্যয় কাটিয়ে একটু একটু করে জীবনের পথে হাঁটতে থাকা কাযানের দারুণ এক আখ্যান ছোটখাটো এই বইটি।

ফুয়াদ ভাইয়ের অনুবাদের মান নিয়ে তো সন্দেহ নেইই, তাও যদি বলতে হয়, বলব-এইটা সেবার বই ভাই। এর পরে আর প্রশ্ন চলে না!
সাধারণ সেবার বেশিরভাগ বইয়ের প্রচ্ছদই তেমন চোখে লাগে না। তবে আজকাল প্রায়ই কিছু সুন্দর সুন্দর প্রচ্ছদ দেখা যায়। এই বইয়ের প্রচ্ছদ তার উৎকৃষ্ট উদাহরণ। সেবার হালের যে বইগুলোর চেহারা পছন্দ হয়েছে, তার মধ্যে কাযান দ্য উলফ ডগ অন্যতম।
বইয়ের মলাট-পৃষ্ঠা আর অন্যান্য সব কিছুর মান চিরায়ত সেবার মতোই।
গতানুগতিক বইয়ের জগৎ থেকে বেরিয়ে যদি প্রকৃতির কোলে বেড়িয়ে আসতে চান, তবে এই নেকড়ে-কুকুর কাযানের গল্পটায় ডুব দেয়া যায় নির্দ্বিধায়।

৪.৫

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENGLISH: I read this book over 50 years ago, but didn't remember a lot about it. My favorite novel by Curwood was always "Nomads of the North." I intend to read "The grizzly king" soon, too.

Some of the descriptions of the behavior of wolves made by Curwood in this book do not match what Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente told us about them. For instance: the fight for dominance between two wolves is never to the death; one of them can surrender, and in that case the other spares his life. Also, a newcomer upstart wouldn't fight for dominance against the leader of a pack; he would have to fight the entire pack. Finally, I think it's inconceivable that the remaining wolves in the pack would attack and butcher the vanquished in a fight for dominance, more so if he had been their previous leader.

The progeny of a mixed pair (male dog and female wolf) is made usually of more than a single pup. The members of the litter can take several years to mature, and only then would they disperse or try to attain a higher rank in their pack. In this novel, Kazan and Grey Wolf have a single pup that leaves them in a very short time, as soon as he kills his first rabbit. I find this difficult to believe.

ESPAÑOL: Leí este libro hace más de 50 años, pero no recordaba mucho de él. Mi novela favorita de Curwood fue siempre "Nómadas del Norte". También tengo intención de leer pronto "El rey de los osos".

Algunas de las descripciones de la conducta de los lobos que hace Curwood en este libro no me cuadran con las que nos contó Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente. Por ejemplo: la lucha por la dominancia entre dos lobos no es a muerte; uno de ellos puede rendirse, y en ese caso el otro le perdona la vida. Además, un advenedizo recién llegado no podría enfrentarse por la dominancia al jefe de una manada; tendría que luchar contra toda la manada. Finalmente, es inconcebible que los restantes lobos de la manada ataquen y descuarticen al vencido en una lucha por la dominancia, más aún si este había sido su jefe anterior.

La progenie de una pareja mixta (perro macho y lobo hembra) se compone generalmente de más de un cachorro. Los miembros de la camada pueden tardar varios años en madurar, y sólo entonces se dispersan o tratan de subir de rango en su manada. En esta novela, Kazan y Loba Gris tienen un solo cachorro, que los abandona en cuanto mata a su primer conejo. Me resulta difícil de creer.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times I found this a very harsh and sad story. On the other hand I could not put this book down and I loved the easy story telling this writer showed.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving Kazan the wolf dog, first published in 1914, four stars as the story of the dog answering the call of the wild dealing with brutality from man is a story that has been done before, and better by Jack London’s books. It has the same type of writing, so if you are a fan of the dramatic writing of surviving the cold northern Wilderness then you will probably enjoy this book.

The opening contains:
“Quarter-strain wolf, three-quarters “husky,” he had lived the four years of his life in the wilderness. He had felt the pangs of starvation. He knew what it meant to freeze. He had listened to the wailing winds of the long Artic night over the barrens. He had heard the thunder of the torrent and the cataract, and had cowered under the mighty crash of the storm. His throat and sides were scarred by battle, and his eyes were red with the blister of the snows. He was called Kazan, the Wolf Dog, because he was a giant among his kind and as fearless, even, as the men who drove him through the perils of a frozen world.”

There is some interaction with some people in the beginning of the book that you know will predictably have to be wrapped up in the end. At one-point Kazan has to help a young woman and her child make it to a cabin through a blizzard. She worries she will not make it:

“Forty miles! And her father had told her that she could make it – and could not lose herself! But she did not know that even her father would have been afraid to face the north that day, with the temperature at thirty below, and a moaning wind bringing the first warning of a blizzard.”

The dog in the wilderness story has all the usual altercations you would expect from a book in this genre. Easier to mention what foes Kazan does not have to face, hope this isn’t giving anything away, but he doesn’t fight a bear or a wolverine in this book. The most unusual, and perhaps not as believable from a dog/wolf emotional standpoint, involves beavers. That chapter opens with:

“So they turned into the north, not knowing that nature had already schemed that the four – the dog, wolf, otter and beaver – should soon be engaged in one of those merciless struggles of the wild which keep animal life down to the survival of the fittest, and whose tragic histories are kept secret under the stars and the moon and the wind that tell no tales.”

As a side note, when I enter in quotes from a book, I try to enter it as written in the book. So, if there isn’t a comma after ‘so’ then I don’t add it. The old books also often didn’t have the Oxford comma in a string, so if the author didn’t use it I don’t add the comma.

Getting back to the beaver story in the book, I think it was the author who schemed it, and not nature… It seemed only slightly contrived, but that part of the story was unique as it involved a different creature for the canine hero to confront. I didn’t take any joy about hearing how the dog kills young beavers. Actually, in the book I probably didn’t need to be told about every animal they kill every day. I also never like it when a dog or a wolf kills another. If you don’t like the thought of a dog killing animals to survive this probably isn’t your type of book.

I don’t really think that a dog or wolf would hold a grudge against an animal, as in this book a lynx, but it is just part what makes up the story often in old dog books. Of course, now anthropomorphism can be taken even further, like narrating a book from the dog’s point of view and have a vocabulary like a college professor. People of course can like what they like…

Another big aspect in the book involves Kazan’s mate Grey Wolf. The way she is treated in this book is actually pretty unique. From that relationship a chapter involves the birth and raising of their pup Baree. Baree will become a canine hero in a different book by the author, he is born, is raised enough to hunt and then wanders off.

In summary, there was a lot I liked in the book. Kazan survives all that is thrown at him and no Kleenex needed at the end. I kinda wished there was more of another clear theme running through the book, but I did enjoy the writing and twists of the story. My edition is one of the Grosset and Dunlap ‘Famous Dog Stories,’ so now only about 11 more books (of 27?) in those editions to go.

[denudatio_pulpae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kazan, futrzasty bohater książki, to w trzech czwartych huski, a w jednej czwartej wilk. Koleje jego psiego życia będą różne, czasem trafi w ręce ludzi, część spędzi w dzikich ostępach ze swoją towarzyszką Szarą Wilczycą. Tak jak w dziełach Londona, psi żywot wśród ludzi nie zawsze należał do przyjemnych, źli ludzie używali kija by wymusić posłuszeństwo. Na szczęście Kazan na swojej drodze spotka również tych dobrych. W lesie natura rządziła się swoimi prawami, wygrywał silniejszy, kija potrzebował tylko słaby człowiek.

Wspaniałe opisy przyrody i życia Kazana z Szarą Wilczycą w dziczy. Curwood miał pojęcie, co w trawie piszczy i pewnie niejednego wilka widział w akcji.

Na koniec mała ostrzegawcza informacja: książka jest "brutalna", o ile naturę można posądzić o brutalność. Wrażliwym nie polecam ;)
8/10

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't exactly naturalist lit, but it is heavy into nature. It's the adventure story of a wolf mix and his life among men and in the wild. Kind of a 'Call of the Wild' but with more description and about equal amount of drama.
And dang, but every man resorts to the whip. Doesn't look good for men! Women need to let 'em fight it out and die off so they can be left to pretty up the world with glowing locks of golden hair and musical voices and the thrill of a soft touch and whatever else Curwood thought women had going for them. I honestly can't figure out how women even survive his books.
But I still enjoyed it enough to read to the end. Cheered for Kazan, got all caught up, grieved and stormed and got my reading brain all in a frumpy tangle worrying about that dog. I would have enjoyed this more in my horse-and-dog story days of yore, but at least as a woman of certain years I can get caught up without going teen-angsty-tearfully-insane. Thank goodness.
The book has lots of violence- animals fighting, men beating animals, men perpetrating crimes against each other, so on. A few swear words. A lot of whips. Lots of inch long fangs, too, and razor sharp claws. You get the idea.

[Mahrufa Mery · Rating 3 out of 5]

আরেহ! এতো প্রেম কাহিনী... তবে, মানুষের প্রেম কাহিনীর চেয়ে শতগুণে ভাল।

[Cecy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro con una narración increíble!!!

[Andy Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Jack London

Although definitely derivative of Jack London's wild dog books, Call of the Wild and White Fang, this is an excellent novel. The writing is consistently strong without resorting to archaic and/or complicated language and Curwood achieves a level of personification and pathos for his canine protagonist that betters either dog in London's two books (especially White Fang who is a difficult character to love). Furthermore, the author seems far more knowledgeable about animal behavior and wilderness in general, thereby adding a level of realism to the story that is largely missing from London's adventure books. Themes of loyalty, fidelity and love in the animal kingdom are explored and the story is very touching. Call of the Wild defined the genre and boasts the universal theme, but this is the better novel.

[Alice ♔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an adorable book. <3 I love reading books from an animal's perspective and this one was no different to the other awesome ones I've read. I thought it was also cool that this story is 97 years old but it is still so amazing and I was hooked right through.

[chhaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megint a téves előítéleteim csapdájába estem: a könyv címe és a borítón acsargó jószág alapján valami gagyi horrorféleségre számítottam, ezért halogattam. Mekkorát tévedtem! Nagyon szép történet egy keverék kutyafarkasról, az ő kalandjairól a vadregényes északon, szürke farkas párjáról, hiúzokról és hódokról, hűségről és szabadságról… Tényleg méltó ahhoz, hogy Jack London regényeihez hasonlítsák, megérdemelne egy szép új kiadást (esetleg más címet és új fordítást)… Jól esett olvasni.

[Eirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endelig fikk jeg hørt ferdig en lydbok jeg bare hørte starten av som barn. Jeg har tenkt på den i gjevne mellomrom siden den gang, og nå vet jeg endelig hvordan det ender for Kazan og Gråulv.

En hjerteskjærende og vakker bok.

[Aitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviamente recuerda mucho a Colmillo Blanco.
A todo aquél que le guste la naturaleza y quiera a los animales, le encantará este libro.
Eso sí, matizar que este libro está escrito a principios del siglo XX, y que las emociones de los animales están humanizadas. Quizás eso en este caso lo haga aún más bonito.

[Beatričė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paprastai skaitydama knygas (ne)sąmoningai tapatinuosi su veikėjais. Šiuo atveju pagrindinis veikėjas didžiąja dalimi vilkas, 1/3 šuo. Vilkų ir šunų prigimimas šiek tiek skiriasi, todėl Kezanas nuolatos patiria dvylipumą - kartais atsiduoda laukinei vilko prigimčiai, bet išgirdęs malonų žmogaus kvietimą, rūpestį - nori susigūžti prie ugnies, prie žmogaus. Tačiau ne viskas taip paprasta, apart dvylipumo gyvenimą sunkina skaudžios patirtys, atsakomybės jausmas, ilgesys, meilė.

Vienareikšmiškai - nepaprastai gražiai ir įtaigiai parašytas romanas, išreikštas gyvūnų balsu.

[Remo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi padre leyó de niño las obras completas de James Oliver Curwood y, cuando creyó que yo estaba preparado, me las regaló en una edición de lujo. Las tengo aquí a mi lado y es uno de los mejores regalos que conservo de él. Tal vez por eso soy muy parcial con las novelas de Curwood. Sin ser un grande de la literatura, escribía historias llenas de aventuras y amor por la naturaleza. Se dejan leer y son emocionantes, cuando no emotivas.
Kazán es un perro lobo: tres cuartas partes husky y una cuarta parte lobo. Desde la perspectiva de este noble animal corremos muchas aventuras en los bosques de Canadá, donde se desarrolla la historia. El autor hace un canto a la naturaleza y la vida salvaje a la vez que no deja muy bien a los humanos.
Es una lectura entretenida, lírica por momentos, que deja buen sabor de boca.

[H. Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the more influential books of my childhood. At the time I failed to understand just how good a book it was, though it affected me greatly. As an adult I more fully recognize the brilliant writing style of James Oliver Curwood. Having read this book several times over I am always amazed at Curwood's ability to write such wonderful adventure with such a compelling and descriptive writing style.

This book is a must read for anyone who loved adventure, a must read for dog lovers and a must read for anyone who has not been exposed to the wonderful writing style of James Oliver Curwood.

Gushing, am I? You will too. You may even do as I did - name your own dog Kazan.

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all times. It is one of the first books I remember reading as a child. It was my father's favorite book and we read it several times together. Every few years I re-read it and marvel over the wonderful writing of James Oliver Curwood. It is the story of a dog but it is the story of people too. It is a book to feel good about and a book to cry over. I last read it about three years ago so will put that date down, but I probably read it the first time when I was about ten - and I am a grandmother.

[Alfonso Alvarez de Mon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el primer libro que leo de este autor y me ha gustado bastante. Me recordó a "Colmillo blanco" aunque quizás menos descarnado: los golpes, los sufrimientos, las muertes, se cuentan pero no se detiene el autor en los detalles.
Demuestra un conocimiento profundo de la naturaleza y acerca al lector al asombroso mundo de los instintos animales.
Un poco lento quizás para un lector juvenil pero muy recomendable.

[Philip Reiter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a dog/wolf story. Compared to Jack London as a writer and storyteller, author Curwood does not cut for this reader. The poor dog cannot decide to be a dog or a wolf, and the tale(s) leap back and forth.
I generally like dog stories, but this is the last of this author I will read.

[Mares · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story. It was a good read, but it lacks something to make it great.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was interesting through the first half, but was lackluster compared to the stories of Jack London.

[Alex T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good wolfdog xenofiction similar in style to Jack London's works.

Full review at: https://skybookcorner.blogspot.com/20...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passing through this book very early on is one character, Paul Weyman, a zoologist who loves wild animals purely for their own sake: he hates the steel gin-traps, bait poisoned with strychnine, the whole paraphernalia of cruelty used routinely in this setting—and, in fact, never even carries a gun. He plays no important part in the story and is there, I’m sure, to give us a glimpse of the author himself. Even back in 1914 when Kazan was being written, there were people with a more enlightened attitude toward our fellow creatures and James Oliver Curwood, a hunter as a young man, had become one of them.
    Kazan is three parts husky and one part wolf, most of his four years having been spent as lead dog in a sled-team during the pioneering days of the Canadian northwest. Although a huge and powerful animal, it’s been an exceptionally savage existence and his body is scarred from nose to tail by the whip and the club, his eyes bloodshot from the brutal winters. One fateful day, though, Kazan kills a man and takes off into the forest; what he’s actually done is save a woman from attack, possibly even saved her life, but he’s not to know that—all this wolf-dog knows is that he’s ripped a human throat out and must run. And so he exchanges one harsh life for another, but at least in this new one he is free.
    I found the opening a bit confusing, and clumsy—but after that simply could not put this book down as Kazan contended, one after another, with everything the Yukon and its harsh landscapes and climate, its other wild animals and occasional humans, could throw at him. The truth of it is that Curwood doesn’t get into his stride until he finally clears the last human being off its pages and leaves us with the wolf-dog alone in his wilderness. Once he has, though, it’s an effortless read: no elaborate plot or subtle characters, just a series of challenges, tragedies and adventures. If you have any kind of soft spot for dogs and wolves at all, it’s a rollercoaster.
    There are inevitable comparisons with Jack London’s The Call of the Wild and White Fang, some questioning Curwood’s portrayal of Kazan’s inner life as unrealistic, too similar to our own. Unusually for his time, he came to believe we are not the only animal on this planet capable of rational thought and Kazan reads to me very much like his response to The Call of the Wild, which is more to do with instincts, with drives. He uses his gin-trap-hating zoologist to make this clear too: Weyman is himself writing a work to be called The Reasoning of the Wild.
    Either way, for me Kazan’s setting is the more memorable of the two, with its lynx, beaver dams and snowshoe hares, its vast open spaces, its winters. There is a sequel, but I doubt I’ll read it—I don’t want to risk spoiling Kazan himself; I want to leave him, and Gray Wolf too, in my mind exactly the way they are.

[WolfLover · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reads like a Jack London wannabe. Kazan is a wolf-dog hybrid torn between life in the wild and life with humans. Despite being born among humans, his learning to survive in the wild happens virtually overnight, instead of the gradual progress of Buck in Jack London’s classic The Call of the Wild, and there is almost no character development.

The author seems to know little about the animals he’s writing about, possibly due to the lack of research that had been done at the time. The words “horns” and “antlers” are used interchangeably (they are different structures), lynxes are stated to have twenty claws (they have eighteen), and a female caribou is referred to as a doe (they’re actually called cows). Some of the wolf behaviour is downright ridiculous, such as a wolf pack turning on and eating (!) their leader after Kazan defeats him in a fight, and Kazan’s son leaving his parents at only a couple of months old.

The edition I read had a few noticeable typos, in particular mixing up Bs and Hs, so you get “hut” instead of “but” or “hull” instead of “bull”. One character is introduced as Harker, yet is referred to as Barker at least twice. This is presumably the fault of Mint Editions, the producers of this version, rather than the author himself.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of background first, I grew up about ten miles from Curwood's home in Owasso Michigan. I'd hear of him from time to time and think to myself that I should read something by him. Owosso is quite proud of him and has preserved both his home and "castle" office space. Recent stop in Owasso got me on the track for an author who was so popular in his time, I could not find a single book by him in the entire Michigan library system. Weird? It seems most of his works are available on Gutenberg, and Kazan was the most popular. If you told me Jack London had written this, I would not dispute it. It was Call of the Wild all over again. Also felt interminably long. Times have changed and how we as a culture think about nature has changed (mostly for the better). I could not tolerate reading about a dog suffering, either at the hand of humans or nature, for a couple hundred pages. My two star rating is probably unfair in that I'm judging him on modern mores, it does seem he was good enough writer and could tell a lively adventure tale - its just one I'd rather not read.

[Tuong Vi Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
As a Jack London fan, I approve. Very similar to him in terms of writing style, a must-read if you're into wildlife and animal-centered themes. The plot revolves around survival, following Kazan and his partner as they face daily challenges in their quest to stay alive. It can get a bit repetitive at times, but a survival story has its appeal. I couldn’t put the book down; I was hooked on what would happen next to Kazan: the freezing weather, unsympathetic humans, and other wild creatures lurking in the shadows, waiting for their moment.
PS: Kazan along with Gray Wolf deserved better, they both suffered enough (they can't even enjoy time with their pups in peace...). Kudos to Curwood for highlighting the cruel side of humanity, and throughout the story you can tell which characters are kind and which ones are truly garbages, just by how they treat these animals (can't believe these wolves had to deal with guys like Mc Cready and McTrigger).

[Alejandro Lugo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kazan holds a special place in my heart as a book that ignited my love for reading during my childhood.

I distinctively remember the joy and wonder that accompanied Kazan's adventures in the forest. The captivating narrative and Curwood's vivid storytelling transported me to a world of wilderness, where the bond between man and nature, as seen through Kazan's eyes, left a lasting impression. A timeless tale that captivates both young and adult readers alike, Kazan remains a cherished memory of literary exploration and discovery.

Five stars for a book that sparked my imagination and kindled a lifelong love for the magic of storytelling.

[Huong Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* vì mình rất thích Sói Xám và Kazan. Đoạn Sói Xám bị mù, 3 đứa con của Sói Xám bị mèo rừng giết chết, thương vô kể. Cuộc đời của Kazan nhiều đoạn thật bi tráng. Thật may nó luôn có Sói Xám chung thuỷ bên cạnh, và cũng biết trân trọng sự tồn tại của Sói Xám để nương tựa lẫn nhau. Mê mẩn con chó Huski lai sói này vì nó vừa thông minh, vừa hoang dã, lại rất tình cảm với phụ nữ và trẻ em, cũng cực kì tình nghĩa với ng nào đối xử tốt thật lòng với nó. Muốn có 1 bạn chó như vậy nhưng cũng sợ sự hung dữ của nó và sợ rằng k thể cho nó sự tự do mà bản năng sói của nó cần.