David Finch (3)

I don't know why I spent $36 to order in this book from the local shop, and then waited aeons to actually crack the covers ... but I just put it down a week ago and it was such a pleasure. I'd previously reread my fave of Patterson's books--Trail to the Interior--and delved into this biog. I was shocked to discover that R.M. had lied about seeing the Great Falls of the Nahanni in the 1920s, but the rest of the man's great adventures are largely true. The biography also reveals some surprising poor decisions and subsequent near-death experiences. It's good to know about Patterson's personal friends and get a sense of how all his adventures dovetailed together. Maybe the book suffers a bit from the need to paint a glorious picture of a man who rather had it (monetarily) easy--a momma's boy, Oxford-educated (if he didn't do stellarly). Yet I think Finch does a creditable job of not inventing too much between the letters and diaries, though he needs must a few times. "How Patterson must have laughed at that." I have yet to read Far Pastures and Finlay's River, and feel very glad I have those awaiting me, though the latter will sadden me for those rivers and trails forever inundated now. And how I wish I could read the book on Napoleon's horsemen that never saw publication! Patterson remains one of my favourite adventure wordsmiths, up there with Canada's own Farley Mowat.… (més)