Trail of the Wolf

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book of wolf information and photography.
Review: Any wolf lover is sure to delight in this book. Author R.D. Lawrence, once admittedly afraid of the creatures, is now a wolf biologist and has studied them for four decades. Much of the information here is based on his own first-hand observations. In the introduction he tells us of the incidents that brought him face-to-face with wolves and sparked his keen interest in them. From there on the book is divided into chapters on the definition and evolution of the wolf, the pack structure, hunting, family life, Lawrence's own experiences raising orphaned wolf pups, the interactions of wolves and humans, and the current status of wolves all over the world. Though some parts are outdated (the book was written in 1993), most of the information is still good today. Lawrence's writing is smooth and easy to read, and though a few biases come across, he does a decent job of keeping a factual base.

The book is also a definite visual treat. The pictures within are by a variety of different photographers, but they are well selected. All are clear, full color, and very beautiful. I do, however, wish some of them had been printed in a larger size; while some are full or half page, there are also many rather tiny ones. The pages are all aesthetically pleasing, with plenty of white space in the margins (bordering on too much, in some cases) so that nothing feels cramped. The lines of text are also nicely spaced, to make for unstrained reading. The pages are thick and glossy and give the book an elegant feel. I'd definitely recommend this to any fan of wolves, as it makes a beautiful coffee-table book and also an interesting read.