Three Against the Wilderness (Classics West)

This is a wonderfully interesting and inspirational book that I would highly recommend if it were true. But the author's son relates in a YouTube interview that many of the most important events in the book were invented so the author could sell more books.The son shrugs off these falsehoods as "literary license." Literary license might grant the author permission to slightly alter events or names, such as combining them for the sake of how the book flows. Literary license does not allow for inventing events that never occurred.The problems start immediately. Collier says he traveled to the wilderness with their newborn son. Collier says the son was later endangered on a frozen lake by a pack of wolves. Collier says his wife and son barely escaped a ferocious bear. Collier writes that he shot dead a moose as it charged his wife. Later, his wife heroically fights to save her son and husband when they simultaneously come down with fevers.....miles apart. And each story had a moral and brought great meaning to the book. And each of these stories, says his son, did not occur.What of the stories of his wife's 100 year old Indian grandmother? Are they falsehoods? How many of the beaver stories are true? What of their fighting the sub-zero temperatures day after day? We hear lots about 50 below zero weather....which his son is unfamiliar with.And once the son tells us of the falsehoods, what are we to believe?They purchase a radio in 1937 and listen to it in their cabin---miles from electricity? We are frightened, as are they, when they receive a letter from the military while their son is in the Korean War. Did they receive the letter? Was he in the war?Knowing that these events--the major events of the book--did not occur also brings into question whether the minor events in the book occurred. Who knows?Clearly the book should not be sold as non-fiction and those who purchase a biography should be warned that the most important parts of the book are not true.There is an edge to the son's voice when he speaks of his father's literary license. He treats us as naive because we cannot understand why his father did not write the truth.Really, this is simple.......the book should have been written as a novel because it is not a biography. Biographers seek to present truth. And this book is not true....and not true during the most important events in the book.At a different level---I purchased a non-fiction biography. But I received a historical novel.Again, writers of non-fiction strive to create truth. Mr. Collier did not seek out the truth and this non-biography and his effort are fatally flawed because of this.

I first found this book in the school library when I was in 8th grade, and devoured it. I bought my own copy when I was a young adult, and have probably read it 6 times over 30 years. The story is one of courage, ingenuity, fortitude and a love of nature. Eric Collier and his wife Lillian built a cabin in what was then wilderness in British Columbia, Canada. Their son, Veasy, was born and raised there, helping his father trap and hunt. The three of them helped restore the beaver population that had been trapped out before their time, which in turn helped restore ponds and marshes to the area. The return of water brought back the wildlife and the balance of nature was restored.Below is a link to several interviews with Veasy, who is now retired and living in a town near where his parents homesteaded. I was a little disappointed that he claims that some of the stories in the book to be exaggerated or fictionalized. Perhaps they were, but I choose to believe that he was just too small to remember how things really happened.EricCollier dot wordpress dot com (change the "dots" into periods and remove the spaces)This book should be included in the collection of anyone who enjoys outdoor adventure, pioneer stories, or nature. It's right up there with Cache Lake Country (by James J. Rowlands) and Crusoe of Lonesome Lake (by Leland Stowe.

I first read this book about 53 years ago I figure. I realise now it painted for me the stark consequences of raping and over-exploitation of the natural environment. Eric Collier came to wild British Columbia after the beavers had been hunted to extermination and the devastating cascade of events that followed. Driven by the desire to see the land and the extraordinary wildlife return to its previous abundance, as described by an Indian elder who had seen it all, he began by restoring a couple of beaver ponds himself by hand. The uplifting and exciting sequence he set in train reversed that spiral of degradation and Nature stepped in to give him a hand.With his wife and son he restored the whole region to life and abundance again.His writing skills ensured I traveled the journey with him and I felt the joy of his achievement. What a story-teller! What a story - and it's true! What a lesson I learned from this book! I have been a conservationist ever since I first read it.I have met others who have read this old book back then, and it affected them in the same profound way. It is a treasure!

This is not some mind blowing book about this or that, instead, it's just a story about a man and his wife, battling to survive in the Canadian wilderness in the early twentieth century. It's also a story about BEAVER . These creatures are so important to sustainability of forests in N. America, and the author backs this up within the story. I really enjoyed this book, a story about a time and way of life that is gone and may never come again. You could tell that the people in the book are or were good folks, salt of the earth types, and through this story they have a message to the selfish trash producing weirdos of the 21st century, a message that I am sure will be ignored by all.

I remember reading articles by Eric Collier in the old Outdoor Life magazine of the fifties, and have never forgotten the adventures of this homesteading family and especially Mr. Colliers exploits with his old .303 ross rifle with a rivet for a front sight. This is one book I should have read long ago. As it turns out, the old memories were refreshed and came alive once more as I read Mr.Colliers book.The book was received in excellent condition and was a great read. I highly recommend it to any who are interested in the troubles and triumphs of a young frontier family who made the best of a very challenging life. Believe me, Mr. Collier is no dumb "country bumpkin" and has a control of the English language that will keep you engrossed to the end and wanting more.

I first read this book as a Readers Digest Condensed book over 50 years ago, borrowed from the County Library. I was watching BBC Country File and they were talking about re-establishing and seeing Beavers in this country, so I was reminded. So I looked for the book on-line. The book is as good as I remember, detailing life in the wild and it's hardships, dangers and joys. How re-introducing the beavers re-vitalised the area - resolved water and drainage issues and how many other wildlife types came back to the area. Beyond Conservation (which is standing still) to re-growth and revitalisation. Highly recommended.

Bought as present and the feedback was. Outstanding book, everyone should read this book it's in tune with what's happening in our world now

Having read of this book in the Canadian magazine 'British Columbia' I purchased a copy through Amazon and consider it to beone of the most interesting books I have ever read. I would recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure and a love of wildlife.The pioneering spirit of this family is evident throughout, and the hardships they overcome sometimes beggar belief, but their life in the wilderness as portrayed in this book is an example to all conservationists.Signed William Eaton

Anyone interested in animals, [Beavers inparticular], nature and a family starting out with a vison to reclaim a wilderness in Canada, in the 1930s; When Conservation was not fashionalable. You will find this book a good read as well as interestin. The author is not trying to convert you. A good story of the difficulties, and the solutions that needed to be overcome. An intellgent ten year, with a little help, would also learn a great deal.

This may possibly be a recounting of the most significant ecological success of our modern time. It is even greater than the reintroduction of the wolves to Yellowstone but is of the same nature. Eric, his wife, Lilly and their son Veasey, trekked by horse drawn waggon into the headwaters of Meldrum creek and started trapping fur. Pretty well all that was available was coyotes. Eric reconstructed beaver dams by hand and was finally given two pair of beaver by a forward looking game warden who saw what he was achieving. The beavers took over the work and spread. The recovery of the ecology was quite unbelievable. It show what one man can do and what one key species, returned to the wild can do. For further reading I would recommend Feral by George Monbiot and a look at his TED talk on rewilding.