“The Custer Wolf” a book review.

Posted by Greybeard on Dec 17th, 2007 in News and weather | Comments Off

“The Custer Wolf”  is a “biography of an American Renegade” by Roger Caras.

“In a way, when thinking and writing of the Custer Wolf, it didn’t always seem such a bad thing,  this sentimentality.  Perhaps I might yet be forgiven for it.   And if I’m not to be forgiven, I will not care.  Somehow, across the years since the blood dried and the hurt ceased to matter, I feel as if I have some slight understanding with this strange, tormented animal.  “One has to be sentimental about a thing like that.  At least I do”"

Mr. Caras seems to have an excellent understanding of the early 1900’s western wolf.  “A wolf, it has been said,  can hear the clouds passing overhead”.

“”This is a drama older than the conscience of man by a billion years and no one can profitably question it,”  says Mr. Caras as he dipicts the pageant in all it fascination, beauty, and brutality.”"

I have just finish reading the book,  for the second time.  The first time was over twenty years ago.  I was greatly affected by it then,  and again this time.  I was left in a thoughtful and pensive mood.  It is a very well written little book of 175 pages.  I first found it at a school library book sale.  One in which they were selling off old books to obtain money to buy new books.

The school in question, made  (in my opinion) two serious mistakes with this book.  #1  It was in the elementary library,  I think the book is far to intense for young minds to appreciate fully.  The High school library would have been a much better location.  (In the college prep section, maybe).  #2  Selling the book off, was a mistake.  The buck or two I paid for it will would never replace it with a better quality book.

Over the years, I somehow lost my first copy, with the library sticker still in it.  But a couple of years ago,  I got the bug to read it again and found it on Amazon Books, from a private vender.  It was originally printed in 1966,  has been out of print for quite a few years, so I suppose I was lucky to find it again.

The Library of Congress Catalog Card Number is,

No. 65-21359

Very interest reading for anyone with an affinity or even a hate, for the American Wolf.  It follows the compact white wolf,  from the time he was nothing but an instinct in his parents being,  til his final death at the hand of a wolf hunter,  many years,  many wolf hunters, and many animal deaths later.  The “Custer” was not an average wolf,  as wolf’s go,  he must have had severe mental problems.  He was not one to judge all wolves by.  But,  his story is facinating,  even though Mr. Caras admits early on, that a human mind,  can not possibly understand that of the wolf.

<A+ Recommended Reading.>



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