A North Country Life: Tales of Woodsmen, Waters, and Wildlife

(Hardback)

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Description

A North Country Life is the story of author Sydney Leas powerful connection to his family, friends, and the northern outdoors. Loosely organized by the changing of seasons, different sections feature essays on such topics as childhood family fishing trips in the wilds of Maine, trophy fly-fishing the northern reaches of the Connecticut River, the opening day of turkey hunting season in Vermont, and getting lost in the deep woods while deer hunting. The essays are introspective and dramatic illustrations of the blending of the human and natural worlds; emotion is attached to both spheres and adds texture to the sketches. Readers of varied interests will be drawn to the sincerity of the authors voice.

A notable writer and poet, Leas lyrical writing preserves a picture of people and places from the past with vivid scenes recalling former times and contrasting them with modern life. Thoughtful portraits of New England elders and the authors friends bring to life the outdoors as seen through many different eyes, inspiring readers to take a new look at the world around them. With the authors knack for descriptive language, this compelling read will strike a chord with anyone interested in the contemplative side of naturewhich, in truth, is most of us.

Reviews

Now nearing his 70th birthday, Vermont poet laureate Lea (A Hundred Himalayas: Essays on Life and Literature, 2012, etc.) meditates on the role of people and place in his life and pays tribute to the many woodsmen (and women) who were his guides and mentors.

I ve always been intrigued by the blending of natural and human worlds or rather by the dramatic illustration of that blending, writes the author in this account of a number of the salty characters, many now deceased, who played a part in his life, many of whom he has described in previously published essays. Here, their stories help him chronicle his life and share his deep love for the northern New England woodlands and his passion for hunting and fishing. He describes with gusto his epic combats as a fly fisherman when he was a hyper-hormonal young man, and he is unapologetic about his love of hunting, which he describes as a life-long passion. Lea disparages what he describes as the rants of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who don't understand the sacramental value of hunting, and he expresses great regard for the woodsmen who mentored him and accompanied him on his adventures. However, he is cleareyed in his appraisal of how much poverty and alcohol abuse were also a part of that bygone way of life. While he himself no longer traps animals, he pays tribute to the trappers who know things about the ways of nature that our Staples-and-Domino's culture is largely unaware of. Lea is involved in an effort to create a 1 million-acre wildlife preserve on the border between Maine and New Brunswick that will be managed according to green guidelines.

While his uncompromising views are and are intended to be provocative, the author s love of nature and his tender evocation of a way of life that is dying out has appeal.

Author Bio

Nick Lyons is a former English professor and book publisher, as well as the author and editor of many books on various topics. He lives in New York City.