Here’s a look at his first book, TOILERS OF THE TRAILS.
TOILERS OF THE TRAILS: Stories from the Great White North by George Marsh, Frank E. Schoonover Illustrator
Most of my favourite Writers of Northern fiction wrote about our Canadian Mounties. The original members of the North-West Mounted Police.
But a few writers dealt powerfully with the mythic Northlands without telling that much of the heroic Scarlet Riders.
Jack London mentioned them in some early works, but his greatest novels didn’t. CALL OF THE WILD, for instance.
A real favourite writer of mine is American George Marsh.
He only published one major story of the Mounted, “Watchdogs of the Northwest.” The reason in his case was because the country he paddled and dogsledded was around Hudson Bay, especially the Ungava territory. The Mounties had little presence in that region in the years George Marsh was there. The few law officers he met in his travels were provincial. Mostly from Quebec.
But George wrote magnificently of the Wild North. Man, did he write!
Here’s a recent Book Review I put on Goodreads:
TOILERS OF THE TRAILS: Stories from the Great White North by George Marsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
American writer George Tracy Marsh is remembered most today for his adventure stories of the Northern wilderness around Hudson Bay. And the wild animals who haunted its forests. And the Ungava huskies who pulled those iconic sleds. His most popular full-length novel was FLASH THE LEAD DOG.
Before WWI, George Marsh travelled and explored that Canadian North, both by canoe and dogsled. Through the 1910’s to 30’s he published popular poems, articles, short stories and novels based on his exploits.
His first collection of magazine stories was published in 1921.
George Marsh’s classic first book is now available in a facsimile paperback edition (and a Kindle eBook) from Amazon. It’s titled TOILERS OF THE TRAILS: Stories From the Great White North. Featuring Frank Schoonover’s original cover art and inside illustrations.
These ten stories and one poem (“The Old Canoe”) show a knowledgeable and natural storyteller at work. His masterpiece of Northwoods survival, “The Valley of the Windigo,” grabs you by the throat. And the dog story “When the Prince Came Home” takes you by the heart.
“With a yelp, the starved Prince, fore feet uplifted, threw himself at Bruce. A pair of strong arms circled the shaggy neck, and a wind-burnt face sought the scarred head, while into a furry ear, amid whines of delight, were poured the things a man says only to his dog…”
And only a man who loves dogs could have written that passage, mon ami!
If you love wilderness tales, especially dog stories, this one’s for you, eh?
For more, see “WOLF WHELPS & LEAD DOGS: Tribute to Wilderness Writer George Marsh” at https://www.civilizedbears.com/wolf-w…
Did you like this Northern Fiction Book Review?
YOU MUST SEE “THE WRITERS OF THE NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE” — MY MOST POPULAR LITERARY HISTORY POST:
“Thanks for a wonderful in-depth article on Mountie fiction. I’m a big fan of the Mounties and I really enjoyed the amount of details you provided and found many, many more books to put on my wish list.” Jack Wagner
“I just discovered your blog recently. I’m all for anything that increases people’s knowledge about these older, mostly forgotten authors. That post on Mountie fiction is great!” Western writer James Reasoner
A comprehensive examination of the writers who created the admirable Mythology of our North-West Mounted Police. My Top 10 Mountie Fiction Writers in some detail — and a look at many other authors. Lavishly illustrated with thrilling book and pulp magazine cover art. FREE TO READ The GREATEST AUTHORS OF NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE FICTION
TOILERS OF THE TRAILS: Stories from the Great White North
by Western writer George Marsh, Frank E. Schoonover (Illustrator). Dogs – fiction.
