Diaires of an Isle Royale Fisherman

by Elling Seglem

Reproductions of the journals and correspondence of A A collection of the diaries and letters of Elling Seglem, who fished the waters of Lake Superior from Isle Royale between 1920 and 1932. A photographer during the winter, Seglem was extremely creative in designing and illustrating newspaper-format letters home to his family in Chicago. In his letters and journals, Seglem tells of the hard work and pleasures of the simple life on this isolated island. His sense of humor and attention to detail make his writing a delight to read. Lots of historic photographs, drawings, and cartoons.

185 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2002

Reviews

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think many people would read this book for pleasure. It is the diary of a man who spent summers as a fisherman on Isle Royal in the 1920s and early 1930s. Some of the entries are homemade newspapers he created to send to the folks back home, and they are clever and cute, but the news is pretty much what you'd expect in a fisherman's diary: how many fish, what kind, and how big, plus the weather, who he visited, and how many pancakes (which he called 'flopjacks') he ate for breakfast. This is a great reference for me, as I'm currently writing a novel set in Isle Royale during the same period, and I'm grateful the family donated his diaries to someone who'd publish them, but I don't think it is a book that will ever garner a wide readership.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is a valuable resource for "life on Isle Royale" of a summer-time resident/fisherman, I found it difficult to read and to follow. The "Introduction," "A note on the text," and the "Notes" at the end were helpful, but I did not find them sufficient for following the entries.

I would have also appreciated more background on Elling Seglem's connection to Seglem Harbor/Fisherman's Home, i.e., why does the harbor bear Elling's surname?

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books that pulls you completely into a place and time you might never otherwise experience. I loved how it blends the quiet solitude of Isle Royale with the grit and rhythm of fishing life. Something both timeless and fleeting. Elling's voice feels both intimate and authentic, like you’re paging through a personal log rather than a polished memoir. Throughout this book are nuggets of wisdom about life that really resonated with me.

[Sherri Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is great if all you want to read about is fish and what the guy ate. It does not give much information on the island.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting history of life on Isle Royale. The diary/newspaper is an interesting history of my great grandfather's cousin's life on the lake (the same lake that killed my great grandfather).