gilda_elise

Thor, a mighty grizzly, and Muskwa, a motherless bear cub, become companions in the Canadian wilderness, going from one adventure to another, picking berries, fishing in rivers, encountering other animals of the forest—all while two bear trappers are drawing nearer and nearer. . . .

This exciting story, originally published as The Grizzly King, inspired the hit film The Bear.

It’s a simple story, yet there is much to glean from it. Told from the perspective of both the bears and the hunters, we come to see who is the braver, the most forgiving, the one with the most heart.

But both species have much to learn. Thor had never had any experience with humans, but he learns the danger in what he perceives as weak animals. As Langdon, one of the hunters, tracks down the grizzly, he will have an epiphany. He is a stand-in for Curwood, who had a similar experience as his character.

A saw The Bear many years ago. The book adds depth to the story, so is a great companion to the film. Both tell a still relevant tale.