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Kazan

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 271 ratings · 18 reviews

Classic wilderness adventure story by the American novelist and conservationist. "Kazan lay mute and motionless, his gray nose between his forepaws, his eyes half closed. A rock could have appeared scarcely less lifeless than he; not a muscle twitched; not a hair moved; not an eyelid quivered. Yet every drop of the wild blood in his splendid body was racing in a ferment of...more

Paperback, Illustrated Edition, 176 pages

Published August 1st 2006 by Dodo Press (first published 1914)

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Jun 20, 2012 Srinivas rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Animal lovers, dog lovers, nature lovers

Shelves: armchair-travels-2012, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of the most lively and enjoyable books that I have ever read. This is a must read for animal lovers, nature lovers and especially dog lovers. It's definitely not a hyperbole if I say that the story of Kazan and Gray Wolf can really touch your heart and mind. It makes you wonder about the deep feelings and instincts that are inherent in all of nature's creation, and not just human beings. In fact Kazan seems much more humane than some of the humans in this book (with whips and clubs and rifle...more One of the most lively and enjoyable books that I have ever read. This is a must read for animal lovers, nature lovers and especially dog lovers. It's definitely not a hyperbole if I say that the story of Kazan and Gray Wolf can really touch your heart and mind. It makes you wonder about the deep feelings and instincts that are inherent in all of nature's creation, and not just human beings. In fact Kazan seems much more humane than some of the humans in this book (with whips and clubs and rifles) who seem to be lacking some basic humanitarian qualities. Kazan's feelings and struggles and deep emotions are presented so tastefully and skillfully that you cant help but wonder and be amazed with the story that unfolds...the climax was perfect and left my eyes moist.

Kazan is a one quarter wolf - three quarters husky, who responds to love and affection. He has a soft corner for human females and children, whom he has found to be extremely loving, but has a hard block towards human males as most of the men he has encountered have been abusive and cruel. He could tolerate men, but never really trust them, given these experiences.

The story starts out with Kazan, his owner Thorpe and the owner's wife going up north towards the great white northern regions (which are now known as the land of Canada), where they meet a man called McCready. From Kazan's reactions to McCready's presence, it is obvious that he knew him from before and that it was not a good relation between them. From Kazan's eyes we see how McCready would use whips and clubs and fire to beat and coax Kazan into submission. All this abuse leads to a deep resentment and loathing in Kazan's heart towards McCready, which scares Thorpe and he starts regarding Kazan with suspicion. Later when McCready attacks Thorpe's wife and attempts to force himself on her, during Thorpe's absence, a moment of cold fury and hatred engulfs Kazan and he breaks free from his chain and kills the evil abusive man. Realizing that he has killed a human, and in his simple heart, believing that this would mean being subject to violent beatings with clubs and whip lashes, he runs off and disappears into the Canadian wilderness, where he encounters, quite literally, his wild side and legacy.

Here he joins a wolf pack, finds a devoted mate in the loyal Gray Wolf, and after defeating the alpha male leader of the pack, becomes its new leader. They hunt together and rule over the forests. Once, sensing humans in their area, and driven by a mad anger he leads his pack towards their tent. The thrill of the hunt was on and the strong jaws snapped and howled the song of impending death while approaching their tent, when Kazan senses and sees a scared frail woman holding her infant close to her chest and sobbing with fear. This evokes his protective side and he turns this strong jaws on the pack instead. Gray wolf is confused by this behaviour, but being in the heat of battle and having a strong sense of mate-hood and fidelity, throws in her mettle with Kazan and they fight the pack off together, thus sealing their fate as outcasts from the wolf pack.

They journey alone, with just each other for company. In time, Gray wolf gives birth to three little pups. Kazan finds himself turning into a father and increased responsibility which comes with the same. Once, when Kazan is out hunting, a lynx attacks their cave, permanently blinding gray wolf and killing off her cubs; before Kazan returns and kills the physically stronger lynx. This incident makes his blood boil with rage and leads to a lifetime of hatred and enmity with lynx-kind.

The two partners survive forest fires, starvation, human induced separation, gray wolf's blindness and hence dependance on Kazan, and many other challenges, but they stick with each other through thick and thin. The book is full of a number of thrilling incidents small and big, only a few of which are mentioned in passing in my review above, and is guaranteed to tug at your heart chords. An absolute must - read. Someone should absolutely make a movie on this book. The people of this world definitely need a bit more sensitization and awareness which this story can provide. (less)

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Apr 11, 2010 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, read-more-than-once, favorites

This is one of my favorite books of all times. It is one of the first books I remember reading as a child. It was my father's favorite book and we read it several times together. Every few years I re-read it and marvel over the wonderful writing of James Oliver Curwood. It is the story of a dog but it is the story of people too. It is a book to feel good about and a book to cry over. I last read it about three years ago so will put that date down, but I probably read it the first time when I was...more

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Mar 22, 2013 C: SometimesIwonder (Summie) :D rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-didn-t-like

This book had an interesting story and I especially liked the ending, but I thought that Kazan seemed like rather White Fang-ish. And this book's rather extreme inaccuracy annoyed me. It said that lynx were more than a match for a wolf. In reality, single wolves kill lynx without it even being considered a fight, as wolves are way too much for them, even for a Eurasian lynx. If you replaced the word 'wolf' in the story with 'coyote', you would have it right, as a lynx is more than a match for a...more

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Nov 03, 2011 H. Dean rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the more influential books of my childhood. At the time I failed to understand just how good a book it was, though it affected me greatly. As an adult I more fully recognize the brilliant writing style of James Oliver Curwood. Having read this book several times over I am always amazed at Curwood's ability to write such wonderful adventure with such a compelling and descriptive writing style.

This book is a must read for anyone who loved adventure, a must read for dog lovers and...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Darth Sparhawk rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rivals "The White Fang". I have read the book a long, long time ago and I barely remember the details, but I loved it. Beautiful and touching.

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Jul 15, 2012 Dominique rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was very well written. I had a problem with a few parts that were inaccurate about wolf behavior, but other than that I loved it!

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Sep 24, 2012 Eveline Evans rated it 4 of 5 stars

I greatly enjoy stories of the far north. If you like dog stories you will greatly enjoy this one.

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Sep 19, 2011 Tabitha Ormiston-Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful, wonderful book. I truly think it is even better than White Fang.

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Jul 31, 2011 Renay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great animal story. Moving and wonderfully written

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Mar 07, 2013 Shon Rand added it

A childhood fave.

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Nov 17, 2012 Frosty rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book!

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Dec 21, 2011 Mariann rated it 5 of 5 stars

My favourite book of all times!

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May 17, 2011 Alice ♔ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-shelf, read-in-2011, middle-grade, fantasy

This was such an adorable book. <3 I love reading books from an animal's perspective and this one was no different to the other awesome ones I've read. I thought it was also cool that this story is 97 years old but it is still so amazing and I was hooked right through.

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Jun 02, 2007 Lisbeth Solberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: twice-read-and-more, fauna, environmental

Original copyright date 1914. Kazan: the Wolf Dog is a humanistic The Call of the Wild. Weird, huh? I started reading "famous dog stories" after we got our first family dog, Heidi, a white German Shepherd.

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Jul 08, 2009 Trinverity rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book in Czech language (Vlčák Kazan), I have book published in 1924. It was a gift from friend whit who are share the passion in really old books.
It's mine favorite book and absolutely loved it.

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Nov 02, 2007 Elena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals, childhood-favorite

I read it in translation, and like it a lot!
Reread in 1990.
Still good.
Also perfect for kids.

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Dec 01, 2012 Mares rated it 3 of 5 stars

An interesting story. It was a good read, but it lacks something to make it great.

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Sep 18, 2007 Partridge Public added it Recommends it for: JF Cur

Shelves: juniorfiction

Curwood, James Oliver

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May 17, 2013 Jos Brito rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 17, 2013 Nonika Lady-gata marked it as to-read

May 17, 2013 Simone Kær rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-books

May 16, 2013 Knight of Void rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood-memories, favourites

May 14, 2013 Andrea is currently reading it

May 14, 2013 Matthew Wheeler marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 TheVisitor marked it as to-read

May 14, 2013 Lanvi marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Chrystal marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Ana Maria marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Rado Osredkar rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 12, 2013 Julie Jones marked it as to-read

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About James Oliver Curwood

Born in Owosso, Michigan he left high school without graduating but was able to pass the entrance exams to the University of Michigan where he studied journalism. In 1900, Curwood sold his first story while working for the Detroit News-Tribune. By 1909 he had saved enough money to travel to the Canadian northwest, a trip that provided the inspiration for his wilderness adventure stories. The succe...more

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The Wolf Hunters (a Tale of Adventure in the Wilderness)

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