Vicious: Wolves and Men in America (The Lamar Series in Western History)
The sad history of the near-extermination of the wolf in North America and the later protection and reintroduction of this same alpha predator are examined in this new synthesis of history, biology, and folklore. Coleman, a historian, was attracted to the topic because the history of the colonization of North America is peppered with references to the wolf. No animal prompted as much discussion, with mention of wolves appearing in town records, local histories, legislative journals, and personal correspondence. European settlers brought their wolf lore and prejudices with them from the old country, and from this creation of the wolf as a malevolent creature came 300 years of persecution. The gradual shift in how the American public saw wolves fills a fascinating chapter, when the glamorizing of "outlaw" wolves as a ploy to further the employment of professional wolf hunters actually led to the admiration of those "outlaws" by the reading public. This heavily footnoted and concept-heavy book reveals the doctoral dissertation it grew out of, but Coleman's writing is never dry or pedantic.Nancy BentCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.