Never Cry Wolf, Mowat, Farley. Published by McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, 1963. First Edition, First Printing. 8vo up to 9½” tall., 247pp. Light blue boards with red-orange spine title and wolf illustration. In near fine condition with tiny name in ink to free endpaper. Second state dustjacket appears as near fine, with a taped-on plastic protective cover.
In 1948–1949, the Dominion Wildlife Service assigned the author to investigate the cause of declining caribou populations in Keewatin Barren Lands, north of Churchill, Manitoba and to determine whether wolves are to blame for the shortage. The book is Mowat’s account of his observation of the wolves. “We have doomed the wolf not for what it is, but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be – the mythologized epitome of a savage, ruthless killer – which is, in reality, no more than the reflected image of ourself.” —from the Preface. Mowat’s book has received criticism relating to the veracity of his work and its conclusions but has been credited for dramatically improving the public image of the wolf. Never Cry Wolf was adapted into a film of the same name in 1983.
Farley McGill Mowat, OC (1921-2014), was a Canadian writer and environmentalist. His works were translated into 52 languages, and he sold more than 17 million books.
