New insights into the changing human attitudes towards wild nature through the depiction of wolves in human culture and heritage. Few animals arouse such strong opinion as the wolf. It occupies a contested, ambiguous, yet central role in human culture and heritage. It appears as both an inspirational emblem of the wild and an embodiment of evil. Offering a mirror to different human attitudes, beliefs, and values, the wolf is, arguably, the species that plays the greatest role in shaping our views on what nature is or should be. North America and, more recently, Europe have witnessed a remarkable return of the grey wolf (Canis lupus, and its close relative the Eurasian wolf, Canis lupus lupus) to eco-systems. The essays collected here explore aspects of this recovery, and consider the history, literature and myth surrounding this iconic species. There are chapters on wolf taxonomy, including the coywolf, the red wolf, and the many faces of the dingo. We also meet the Tasmanian wolf and encounter Nazi Werewolves from Outer Space. The book explores the challenges of separating fact from fiction and superstition, and our willingness to co-exist with large carnivores in the twenty-first century. Biologists, historians, anthropologists, cultural theorists, conservationists and museologists will all find riches in the detail presented in this wolf collection.

Throughout the continents of Eurasia and North American primitive man evolved in association with wolves. Wolves competed with him as a hunter, and raided his flocks and herds. Inevitably, folklore became rich in tales of this powerful, resourceful creature. Europeans reached North American with their attitudes already formed. The wilderness pressed in upon their tiny settlements in constant threat and all energies were devoted to destroying it and turning its inexhaustible resources to use. Over vast areas of the continent the wolf went down with the wilderness before the unprecedented effectiveness of our technological attack on the ecology of a continent. Today, however, there is a great tide of concern over the consequences of our assault on the wild lands and wild creatures on the continent, and more and more biologists are devoting their knowledge and energy to searching studies of our land and its native biota. The wolf has been the subject of detailed study by a number of ecologists on this continent who make use of all the research devices now available. Much of our knowledge is very recent, is increasing rapidly, and has resulted from the work of a mere handful of keen, resourceful, and courageous students of wolf biology. This, the first book to attempt a complete account of the biology of the wolf, draws from years of field research and upon the rich literature from two continents. --From the foreword by Ian McTaggert Cowan

They can't even be in the same room together... Ever since their failed elopement years ago, Prisca Hawthorne has taunted, insulted, and in every way tried to push him away. If only her heart didn't break every time Lord William Westfield left her... But staying apart is even worse... Lord William throws himself into drinking, gambling, and debauchery and pretends not to care about Prisca at all. But when he returns to find a rival werewolf vying for her hand, he'll stop at nothing to claim the woman who should have been his all along.

A newly translated volume of the centuries-old spiritual epic of King Gesar. For centuries, the epic tale of Gesar of Ling has been told across Asia. This epic is a living oral tradition, performed widely by singers and bards and beloved especially in Tibet. Considered the longest single piece of literature in the world canon, the epic of Gesar chronicles the legend of King Gesar of Ling, a heroic figure known for his fearless leadership. The epic encompasses some 120 volumes and nearly 20 million words, and there are numerous versions across cultures. This book is the first English translation of the fourth volume of this sweeping literary work, with stories from after Gesar's coronation to the throne of Ling. This volume focuses on battles won and strategies applied, as the warrior-king Gesar fended off demons and liberated his foes. Though largely a violent account focused on his superhuman prowess in battle, this volume is rich with ethical proverbs that inform Tibetan culture to this day. A significant work of legend, the epic of Gesar is also a vital part of Tibetan Buddhism, as Gesar is said to have been chosen by celestial beings to restore order and destroy anti-Buddhist forces. The epic of Gesar is the cultural touchstone of Tibet, analogous to the Iliad or the Odyssey. While Book One covers Gesar's birth, youth, and rise to power, this volume recounts the martial victories and magical feats that made him a legendary figure to so many.

A Condition of Complete Simplicity offers a practical exploration of three essential keynotes of Francisc an spirituality - humility, love and joy - as they can be lived out in a world that is often characterised by violence, greed and religious conflict. This is our world, and it was also Francis' world - a furnace for forging the radical values of those who cast off possessions, status, security and everything that stood in their way of following Christ. Franciscan wisdom, with its emphasis on the upside-down values of the kingdom of God, has an urgent relevance for many of the problems we encounter today. Francis' turning away from his youthful ambitions inspires us to do battle with our false priorities and find our true vocation. His acknowledging of all creatures as his brothers and sisters challenges us to recognize the image of the Creator in every individual. His infectious love for all creation gives us cause for hope and rejoicing as we learn to find and reflect Christ's presence throughout his world.

Twenty-five years of study and experience went into the making of this one-of-a-kind reference. Veterinarians, animal scientists, dog owners, trainers, consultants, and counsellors will find this book a benchmark reference and handbook concerning positive, humane management and control of dogs. Reflecting the author's extensive work with dogs, this book promises thorough explanations of topics, and proven behavioural strategies that have been designed, tested, and used by the author. More than 50 figures and tables illustrate this unique and significant contribution to dog behaviour, training, and learning.

It argues that through their depictions of animals, medieval writers were not only able to reflect upon their own humanity, but were also able to explore the meaning of more abstract values and ideas (such as civility, sanctity and nobility) that were central to the culture of the time."--BOOK JACKET.

The wolf is one of the most widely distributed canid species, historically ranging throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere. For millennia, it has also been one of the most pervasive images in human mythology, art, and psychology. Wolves and the Wolf Myth in American Literature examines the wolf’s importance as a figure in literature from the perspectives of both the animal’s physical reality and the ways in which writers imagine and portray it. Author S. K. Robisch examines more than two hundred texts written in North America about wolves or including them as central figures. From this foundation, he demonstrates the wolf’s role as an archetype in the collective unconscious, its importance in our national culture, and its ecological value. Robisch takes a multidisciplinary approach to his study, employing a broad range of sources: myths and legends from around the world; symbology; classic and popular literature; films; the work of scientists in a number of disciplines; human psychology; and field work conducted by himself and others. By combining the fundamentals of scientific study with close readings of wide-ranging literary texts, Robisch astutely analyzes the correlation between actual, living wolves and their representation on the page and in the human mind. He also considers the relationship between literary art and the natural world, and argues for a new approach to literary study, an ecocriticism that moves beyond anthropocentrism to examine the complicated relationship between humans and nature.