Biography of a Grizzly: Recent Episodes
Ernest Thompson Seton
"The life of a wild animal always has a tragic end," as Ernest Thompson Seton said. This is the story of Metitsi Wahb, born a playful cub, orphaned young by the murder of his mother, his brothers and sister, raising himself surrounded by enemies, and growing to the fiercest creature anywhere in his vast range -- though showing himself a gentleman in the Yellowstone National Park.
And finally, he is laid low by a smaller, more cunning enemy, and defeated in the end by age and injury. "The life of a wild animal always has a tragic end."
I'll warn you this is a gentle and yet violent story, a natural violence, but not one you'd wish to face yourself, and not recommended for young children. This was the first full book I ever recorded for my "Stories from the Hiber-Nation" podcast, a natural choice, and in some ways my favorite. I hope I've done this fairly short story justice, and that you, too, will feel the passion for nature in Seton's writing.
Read by David "Grizzly" Smith
If you liked this book, here are some others I've recorded for your enjoyment. Thanks for listening!
Part 3 -- The Waning
Chapters 1 through 4. Wahb reaches full maturity, with a vast range, gained by brute strength. Wahb is a gentleman at Yellowstone Park. Wahb is misled. And the story ends as stories end. Not with a bang.
Part 2 -- The Days of His Strength
Chapters 4 and 5. Wahb meets some human "Grizzlies." And he starts learning a few things about being an old grizzly.
Part 2 -- The Days of His Strength
Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Wahb is now a fully grown Grizzly, strong and bad-tempered. Some men try to hunt him. Some men try to trap him. Some men try to invade his territory. All fail, and all regret it. And a couple of them die.
Part 1 -- The Cubhood of Wahb
Sections 4 and 5 -- Wahb starts getting his growth, getting bigger than some old enemies, and getting smart about some new dangers. But it's still dangerous out there in the wild. End of Part 1.
Part 1 -- The Cubhood of Wahb
Section 2 -- Colonel Pickett kills Wahb's mother and three siblings, and names his new post office.
Section 3 -- Wahb runs in fear, wounded and surrounded by fierce enemies.