Other editions of book The Alaskan: A Novel of the North

This is the story of Mary Standish and her escape from her past into the uncivilized wilderness of Alaska in the early 1900s. It is the story of Alan Holt and his fight to protect Alaskan resources and his own vast ranch land. As the two stories intertwine, the politics and corruption threatening the native people and land of Alaska are revealed. The stories of Mary and Alan also lead the reader through gripping action on the Alaskan frontier where men fought battles as in the days of the Wild West of America with the law hundreds of miles away across the wilderness. James Oliver Curwood spent many years in this wilderness and wrote authentically from first hand experience. He also was an astute observer of the political influence on conservation and land use. He was an ecologist before it was popular and was appointed Chairman of the Game, Fish, and Wildlife Committee of the Michigan Department of Conservation in 1927. It is interesting to read this novel, set amidst real problems that Alaskans faced in 1910 before the discovery of oil - when gold, crops, herds, and land were the commodities people fought over.

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.

The Alaskan is an excellent novel describing the character and trials, tribulations and aspirations of a bygone generation. In it Alan Holt, a keeper of reindeer as cattle, takes on Rossland, a greedy opportunist and profiteer. Add Mary Standish to the picture and you have a fast-paced novel, far superior to much of the second and third-rate reading written today. Written by James Oliver Curwood, The Alaskan reads like a Hollywood script on the level of Amistad. The characters are real and memorable. The fact that Mary Standish considers herself to be an American while Alan Holt sees himself as an Alaskan is key to understanding the book. Must reading for those who are curious about America's recent past and the price paid in blood, sweat, and tears to make it the nation it is, The Alaskan remains a classic that is well worth reading today.

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 as well as a cabin in Roscommon, Michigan. Curwood was an avid hunter, but, as he grew older, he became an advocate of environmentalism and was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. The change in his attitude towards wild life can be best expressed by a quote from The Grizzly King: " The greatest thrill is not to kill but to let live. "

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