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Wild Sports in the Far West
"Even that mighty hunter, Gordon Cumming himself, must own himself completely surpassed by this young German, Gerstaecker." -“The” Illustrated London News, 1854
"One of the first men to come hunting in Arkansas." -Bass, For the Trees (1981)
"Frederick Gerstaecker, the German hunter, tramped all over the State from 1839 to 1842." -Shinn, Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas, 1908
Called "The White Bear" by Indians, because of his reputation as a great hunter, Frederick Gerstaecker (1816–1872) hunted bears, panthers, and wolves in the sparcely populated wilderness of Arkansas during the years 1839 to 1842.
In 1859, Gerstaecker published a narrative of his life as a backwoodsman in Arkansas titled "Wild Sports in the Far West." The book contains entertaining accounts of close scrapes with bears, panthers, and wolves as well as rough hard-drinking frontiersmen and pioneers.
"One of the first men to come hunting in Arkansas." -Bass, For the Trees (1981)
"Frederick Gerstaecker, the German hunter, tramped all over the State from 1839 to 1842." -Shinn, Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas, 1908
Called "The White Bear" by Indians, because of his reputation as a great hunter, Frederick Gerstaecker (1816–1872) hunted bears, panthers, and wolves in the sparcely populated wilderness of Arkansas during the years 1839 to 1842.
In 1859, Gerstaecker published a narrative of his life as a backwoodsman in Arkansas titled "Wild Sports in the Far West." The book contains entertaining accounts of close scrapes with bears, panthers, and wolves as well as rough hard-drinking frontiersmen and pioneers.
- GenresHistory
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1859
42 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Friedrich Gerstäcker
1,112 books7 followersFriedrich Gerstäcker (May 10, 1816, Hamburg - May 31, 1872, Braunschweig) was a German traveler and novelist.
He was the son of Friedrich Gerstäcker (1790–1825), a celebrated opera singer. After being apprenticed to a commercial house, he learnt farming in Saxony. In 1837, however, just younger than 21 and having imbibed from Robinson Crusoe a taste for adventure, he went to America and wandered over a large part of the United States, supporting himself by whatever work came to hand. He became fireman on a steamboat, deck hand, farmer, silversmith, and merchant. After wandering through most of the United States, spending some time as a hunter and trapper in the Indian territory, and in 1842 keeping a hotel at Point Coupée, Louisiana, he returned to Germany six adventurous years later in 1843.
To his great surprise, he found himself famous as an author. His mother had shown his diary, which he regularly sent home, and which contained descriptions of his adventures in the New World, to the editor of the Rosen, who published them in that periodical. These sketches having found favour with the public, Gerstäcker issued them in 1844 under the title Streif- und Jagdzüge durch die Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika. In 1845 his first novel, Die Regulatoren in Arkansas, appeared marking the start of a successful writing career. Henceforth the stream of his productiveness flowed on uninterruptedly.
From 1849 to 1852 Gerstäcker travelled round the world, visiting North and South America, Polynesia and Australia. He experienced the California gold rush, crossed the South Pacific on a whaler, and wandered through Australia and experienced a "gold rush" there. On his return to Germany, he settled in Leipzig.
In 1860 he again went to South America, chiefly with a view to inspecting the German colonies there and reporting on the possibility of diverting the stream of German emigration in this direction. The result of his observations and experiences he recorded in Achtzehn Monate in Südamerika (1862). In 1862 he accompanied Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Egypt and Abyssinia, and on his return settled at Coburg, where he wrote a number of novels descriptive of the scenes he had visited.
In 1867-1868 Gerstäcker again undertook a long journey, visiting North America, Venezuela and the West Indies. He visited Mexico right after the collapse of the Second Mexican Empire, a situation about which he wrote a few passages in one of his books. On his return lived first at Dresden and then at Brunswick. While preparing for a journey to India, China and Japan, he suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage on May 31, 1872.
The widely traveled adventurer left an oeuvre of 44 volumes, which he edited himself for his Jena publisher H. Costenoble. His stories and novels inspired numerous imitators: Karl May profited from him and used landscape descriptions as well as subjects and characters. Even theatre and movie companies borrowed from his work: the plot of the musical Brigadoon (1954) was adapted from Gerstäcker's short story Germelshausen.
The Friedrich-Gerstäcker-Gesellschaft e.V. (Fr. G. society) founded in 1978 in Braunschweig offers more information about Gerstäcker and runs a museum about his work.
He was the son of Friedrich Gerstäcker (1790–1825), a celebrated opera singer. After being apprenticed to a commercial house, he learnt farming in Saxony. In 1837, however, just younger than 21 and having imbibed from Robinson Crusoe a taste for adventure, he went to America and wandered over a large part of the United States, supporting himself by whatever work came to hand. He became fireman on a steamboat, deck hand, farmer, silversmith, and merchant. After wandering through most of the United States, spending some time as a hunter and trapper in the Indian territory, and in 1842 keeping a hotel at Point Coupée, Louisiana, he returned to Germany six adventurous years later in 1843.
To his great surprise, he found himself famous as an author. His mother had shown his diary, which he regularly sent home, and which contained descriptions of his adventures in the New World, to the editor of the Rosen, who published them in that periodical. These sketches having found favour with the public, Gerstäcker issued them in 1844 under the title Streif- und Jagdzüge durch die Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika. In 1845 his first novel, Die Regulatoren in Arkansas, appeared marking the start of a successful writing career. Henceforth the stream of his productiveness flowed on uninterruptedly.
From 1849 to 1852 Gerstäcker travelled round the world, visiting North and South America, Polynesia and Australia. He experienced the California gold rush, crossed the South Pacific on a whaler, and wandered through Australia and experienced a "gold rush" there. On his return to Germany, he settled in Leipzig.
In 1860 he again went to South America, chiefly with a view to inspecting the German colonies there and reporting on the possibility of diverting the stream of German emigration in this direction. The result of his observations and experiences he recorded in Achtzehn Monate in Südamerika (1862). In 1862 he accompanied Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Egypt and Abyssinia, and on his return settled at Coburg, where he wrote a number of novels descriptive of the scenes he had visited.
In 1867-1868 Gerstäcker again undertook a long journey, visiting North America, Venezuela and the West Indies. He visited Mexico right after the collapse of the Second Mexican Empire, a situation about which he wrote a few passages in one of his books. On his return lived first at Dresden and then at Brunswick. While preparing for a journey to India, China and Japan, he suffered a fatal cerebral haemorrhage on May 31, 1872.
The widely traveled adventurer left an oeuvre of 44 volumes, which he edited himself for his Jena publisher H. Costenoble. His stories and novels inspired numerous imitators: Karl May profited from him and used landscape descriptions as well as subjects and characters. Even theatre and movie companies borrowed from his work: the plot of the musical Brigadoon (1954) was adapted from Gerstäcker's short story Germelshausen.
The Friedrich-Gerstäcker-Gesellschaft e.V. (Fr. G. society) founded in 1978 in Braunschweig offers more information about Gerstäcker and runs a museum about his work.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 22, 2024
Not a great narrative but a really interesting way to learn about Arkansas.
September 14, 2021
Absolutely amazing book of life in the 1830-40's in America. I found a free digital copy through Google Play Books after hearing about it from Clay Newcomb on the Meateater podcast. Gerstacker was ahead of his time in many beliefs. I felt like I was on his adventure seeing the prolific wildlife and eating venison, turkey, and bear with him. What an amazing story.
May 28, 2024
Awesome book. Fascinating insight into life in North America in the mid-1800s. He was in areas close to my home. Loved hearing the description of the way of life and his encounters with people and wildlife.
January 30, 2022
While this book certainly contains some confronting issues especially around slavery in 1800s America, it was a fascinating read into one hunters journey across the 'free world'.
December 31, 2023
An interesting look into the wild life Americans lived in the south, specifically Arkansas, in the mid 19th century. A must read for native Arkansans who will most certainly recognize or have visited many of the areas Gerstaeker mentions throughout his decade in our great state. Keep the wild places wild!
January 7, 2023
Translated from German. So far has made me chuckle, as soon as I can get the kids to bed I will attempt to read it. As long as I can keep my eyes open. I'll let you guys know, once I complete it.
July 10, 2021
I was amazed by this book.
When I picked it up, I was expecting a slog through colonial English, but the writing and translation were outstanding. Exceptionally well told narrative, and a fascinating look at what was the frontier of America in the decades before the Civil War--the lost era of American settlement between the settling of Kentucky and the taming of the West.
Highly recommend for anyone interesting in American history, the West, hunting, or the great outdoors. Just be aware that it does have some very 1820's views on race and religion, and this version has a number of missing pages -- not sure if another edition would have those pages or if they have been lost to time.
When I picked it up, I was expecting a slog through colonial English, but the writing and translation were outstanding. Exceptionally well told narrative, and a fascinating look at what was the frontier of America in the decades before the Civil War--the lost era of American settlement between the settling of Kentucky and the taming of the West.
Highly recommend for anyone interesting in American history, the West, hunting, or the great outdoors. Just be aware that it does have some very 1820's views on race and religion, and this version has a number of missing pages -- not sure if another edition would have those pages or if they have been lost to time.
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September 23, 2021This has to be one of the most interesting books I have read being of one's encounters in the old days and being able to survive!
I can compare this guy to that of Daniel Boone and hold high respects for the way he has portrayed his lie!
I can compare this guy to that of Daniel Boone and hold high respects for the way he has portrayed his lie!
June 1, 2022
A story about hunting
I kept waiting for our protagonist to gain a love interest or at least have some character developing experience but alas the book is just a long list of hunting stories, thats it.
I kept waiting for our protagonist to gain a love interest or at least have some character developing experience but alas the book is just a long list of hunting stories, thats it.
November 15, 2022
Great book, the e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wild...
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wild...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews