It is a rare and wonderful occasion when an unpublished manuscript of a much-loved author is discovered long after they are dead, and their voice is heard once again. Such is the case with
Chris in the Wilderness
by George Frederick Clarke (1883-1974).
is set in great woods of central New Brunswick that lies to the north of the Howland Ridge settlement near the village of Millville. It is a sequel to
Chris in Canada
, published in 1925, but it remained in manuscript form until found in 2007 among Clarke's papers that survived an attic fire.
tells the story of Chris Alison and his boyhood friendship with Noel Polchis, an Indigenous Elder. Chris is keen to learn the livelihood skills of wilderness living and Noel is his mentor.
is set three years later; Chris is now a young man who accompanies Noel on a winter trapping expedition into the heart of New Brunswick's great woods, where they encounter conflict and serious danger from a competitor trying to take over Noel's traditional hunting and trapping territory. Long standing issues of injustice and racial prejudice emerge. Strategic thinking and courageous action are required. Noel was a real person; one of the author's best friends, who he honours by making him the main character of this book.
With the publication of
, the story of Noel and Chris delves further into the skills of a forest-based livelihood and deeper into the bonds of friendship