Fire in the Bones: Bill Mason and the Canadian Canoeing Tradition

by James Raffan

When Bill Mason set off alone into the wilderness in his red canoe, many people went with him, if only in their imaginations. Now, James Raffan leads us into the heart of the vast landscape that was Bill Mason's own brilliant imagination, on a biographical journey that is entertaining, enriching and inspiring. Bill Mason was a filmmaker who gave us classics such as Cry of the Wild and Paddle to the Sea; he was author of the canoeist's bible, Path of the Paddle; he was the consummate outdoorsman. But few Canadians know that his gentleness and rugged self-sufficiency masked a life of great physical struggles. James Raffan reveals the private, sometimes anguished, man behind the legend.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Canada

300 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful bio. I knew of Mason as a canoe instructor. In this book I met him as a successful commercial artist, an award-winning filmmaker, a painter, and a Christian. It was fascinating to learn his story and how it intersected with other authors and communicators [Sig Olson, Calvin Rutstrum, Bruce Cockburn, and Pierre Trudeau as examples.] The book is honest, as it reveals his warts as well as his strengths.

Most of his films are on YouTube, so I could view them when reading the story; adding to my enjoyment.

[LDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written, and I learned a lot. Bill Mason was clearly quite the guy -- I didn't know about his art or the notoriety his films got. Got a kick out of Pierre Trudeau showing up on his doorstep! This book made me pull out my DVD of Path of the Paddle and yearn for spring so I can practice my technique!

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Bill Mason's background and the stories about his adventures. It's an eye opener to read about his dedication to his passion.