James Oliver Curwood
Encyclopedia
James Oliver Curwood was an American novelist and conservationist
. His writing studio, Curwood Castle
, is now a museum in Owosso, Michigan
.
, where he enrolled in the English department and studied journalism. After two years, he quit college to become a reporter. 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 success of his novels afforded him the opportunity to return to the Yukon
and Alaska for several months each year that allowed him to write more than thirty such books.
By 1922, Curwood's writings had made him a very wealthy man and he fulfilled a childhood fantasy by building Curwood Castle
in Owosso. Constructed in the style of an 18th century French chateau
, the estate overlooked the Shiawassee River
. In one of the homes' two large turrets, Curwood set up his writing studio. He also owned a camp in a remote area in Baraga County, Michigan
, near the Huron Mountains
as well as a cabin in Roscommon, Michigan
.
Curwood was an avid hunter in his youth; however, as he grew older, he became an advocate of environmentalism and was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. The change in his attitude toward wild life can be best expressed by a quote from The Grizzly King: "The greatest thrill is not to kill but to let live."
In 1927, while on a fishing trip in Florida, Curwood was bitten on the thigh by what was believed to have been a spider and he had an immediate allergic reaction. Health problems related to the bite escalated over the next few months and infection set in that led to his death. He died from poisoning in his nearby home on Williams Street at the age of 48. Curwood was interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery in his family's plot located in Owosso. At the time of his death, he was the highest paid (per word) author in the world.
to celebrate the city's heritage. In addition, a mountain in L'Anse Township, Michigan
was given the name Mount Curwood
, and the L'Anse Township Park was renamed Curwood Park.
A great number of his works were turned into movies, several of which starred Nell Shipman
as a brave and adventurous woman in the wilds of the north. Many films from Curwood's writings were made during his lifetime, as well as after his passing through to the 1950s. In 1988 French director Jean-Jacques Annaud
used his 1916 novel, The Grizzly King to make the film The Bear. Annaud's success generated a renewed interest in Curwood's stories that resulted in five more films being produced in 1994 and 1995.
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
. His writing studio, Curwood Castle
Curwood Castle
Curwood Castle is a small castle, now a museum, located in Owosso, Michigan. It was built in 1922 and was home to author James Oliver Curwood, who used one of the turrets as a writing studio....
, is now a museum in Owosso, Michigan
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...
.
Biography and career
Curwood was born in Owosso, the youngest of four children. He left high school before graduation, but passed the entrance exam to the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he enrolled in the English department and studied journalism. After two years, he quit college to become a reporter. 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 success of his novels afforded him the opportunity to return to the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
and Alaska for several months each year that allowed him to write more than thirty such books.
By 1922, Curwood's writings had made him a very wealthy man and he fulfilled a childhood fantasy by building Curwood Castle
Curwood Castle
Curwood Castle is a small castle, now a museum, located in Owosso, Michigan. It was built in 1922 and was home to author James Oliver Curwood, who used one of the turrets as a writing studio....
in Owosso. Constructed in the style of an 18th century French chateau
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
, the estate overlooked the Shiawassee River
Shiawassee River
The Shiawassee River in the U.S. state of Michigan is long and generally flows in a northerly direction. It merges together with the Flint River, the Cass River and the Tittabawassee River to form the Saginaw River, which drains into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron.-Description:Supporting...
. In one of the homes' two large turrets, Curwood set up his writing studio. He also owned a camp in a remote area in Baraga County, Michigan
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
, near the Huron Mountains
Huron Mountains
The Huron Mountains are located in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, mostly in Marquette and Baraga counties, overlooking Lake Superior. Their highest peak is Mount Arvon which, at above sea level, is the highest point in the state of Michigan. Nearby Mt...
as well as a cabin in Roscommon, Michigan
Roscommon, Michigan
Roscommon is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,133. It is the county seat of Roscommon County....
.
Curwood was an avid hunter in his youth; however, as he grew older, he became an advocate of environmentalism and was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. The change in his attitude toward wild life can be best expressed by a quote from The Grizzly King: "The greatest thrill is not to kill but to let live."
In 1927, while on a fishing trip in Florida, Curwood was bitten on the thigh by what was believed to have been a spider and he had an immediate allergic reaction. Health problems related to the bite escalated over the next few months and infection set in that led to his death. He died from poisoning in his nearby home on Williams Street at the age of 48. Curwood was interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery in his family's plot located in Owosso. At the time of his death, he was the highest paid (per word) author in the world.
Legacy
Curwood Castle is now a museum. During the first full weekend in June of each year, the city of Owosso holds the Curwood FestivalCurwood Festival
The Curwood Festival is a celebration of the American novelist James Oliver Curwood in Owosso, Michigan. Many of his novels were written in Curwood Castle on the banks of the Shiawassee River.-History:...
to celebrate the city's heritage. In addition, a mountain in L'Anse Township, Michigan
L'Anse Township, Michigan
L'Anse Township is a civil township of Baraga County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,926. Mount Arvon and Mount Curwood, the highest and second highest points in Michigan are located in the township....
was given the name Mount Curwood
Mount Curwood
Mount Curwood, elevation 1,978 feet , in L'Anse Township, Baraga County is the second highest point in the U.S. state of Michigan. Mt...
, and the L'Anse Township Park was renamed Curwood Park.
A great number of his works were turned into movies, several of which starred Nell Shipman
Nell Shipman
Nell Shipman was a Canadian actress, author and screenwriter, producer, director, and animal trainer. She was a Canadian pioneer in early Hollywood. She is best known for her work in James Oliver Curwood stories and for portraying strong, adventurous women...
as a brave and adventurous woman in the wilds of the north. Many films from Curwood's writings were made during his lifetime, as well as after his passing through to the 1950s. In 1988 French director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Jean-Jacques Annaud is a French film director, film producer and screenwriter.- Biography :Annaud was born in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne...
used his 1916 novel, The Grizzly King to make the film The Bear. Annaud's success generated a renewed interest in Curwood's stories that resulted in five more films being produced in 1994 and 1995.
External links
- http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=mediatype%3A%28texts%29%20-contributor%3Agutenberg%20AND%20%28subject%3A%22Curwood%2C%20James%20Oliver%2C%201878-1927%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Curwood%2C%20James%20O.%20%28James%20Oliver%29%2C%201878-1927%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Curwood%2C%20James%20O.%20%28James%20Oliver%29%2C%201878-1927%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Curwood%2C%20James%20Oliver%2C%201878-1927%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22James%20Oliver%20Curwood%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22James%20O.%20Curwood%22%20OR%20title%3A%22James%20Oliver%20Curwood%22%20OR%20title%3A%22James%20O.%20Curwood%22%20OR%20description%3A%22James%20Oliver%20Curwood%22%20OR%20description%3A%22James%20O.%20Curwood%22%29Works by or about James Oliver Curwood] at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books original editions color illustrated) (plain text and HTML) - Works by James Oliver Curwood from LibriVoxLibriVoxLibriVox is an online digital library of free public domain audiobooks, read by volunteers and is probably, since 2007, the world's most prolific audiobook publisher...
(audiobooks)