High on the Big Stone Heart is a collection of vibrant and entertaining essays on the people and places of Canada’s Boreal North as seen through the eyes of one of the country’s most celebrated writers of non-fiction. Accompany Charles Wilkins as he ranges across the wilds of northern Quebec; ventures deep into the subarctic Yukon in search of caribou; and tracks the north coast of Lake Superior, the world’s most elegant and mysterious body of fresh water. Meet Murray Monk, trapper extraordinaire, and Barney Giesler, the king of the wooden boat builders. Trace the route of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Bill Barilko, star of the 1951 Stanley Cup Final, on his last and fatal fishing trip to James Bay. Join Maurice "Rocket" Richard on the backwoods adventures that sustained him throughout his troubled career. Follow Wilkins himself as he embarks on a wilderness survival test with nothing but the clothes on his back. This is a book for anyone drawn to the magic of the North, and by the characters who inhabit that epic terrain.
close this panelCharles Wilkins taught creative writing from 1980 to 2007 at the University of Manitoba, Lakehead University, Red River College, and Yukon College. He is the author of 11 books, including Walk to New York and The Circus at the End of the Earth. He lives in Thunder Bay.
close this panel...the perfect book to read while waiting to have your teeth fixed, in the doctor's office, or in the car while your mate goes shopping...
Certainly northern Ontario and Muskoka are subjects with incredible appeal. Wilkins' High on the Big Stone Heart is a good read for anyone drawn to the stunning terrain, storied history and rich culture of these areas.
