These three classic novels of the Far North are enchanting adventure COMPLETELY ANNOTATED FOR TODAY'S READERS James Oliver Curwood was born in Michigan in 1878. He never finished high school and his work history was erratic, but he was devoted to writing, beginning at age nine. He spend two years enrolled at the University of Michigan. He was briefly a journalist (twice). The first six-month job was for the Detroit News-Tribune where he covered funerals (he was fired for incorrectly reporting the name of a peeping tom). Oops. The second time he was rehired as an assistant editor; he left after five years to devote more time to writing.Curwood first went to the Pacific Northwest in 1909 when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in British Columbia was undergoing construction. He spent up to six months of each of the next 18 years in the wilderness, wandering with his wolfdog, Kazan and (sometimes) a bear. He published more than 30 books; some were translated to foreign languages and made into movies.