The story of three orphan bear cubs ... and how a young man prepared them for the perils of living free.

A first hand account of communing with bears in British Columbia's remote, yet not remote enough, North Woods.

The story of three orphan bear cubs ... and how a young man prepared them for the perils of living free.

While Robert Leslie was prospecting in the British Columbia wilderness, he was adopted by three orphaned bear cubs. He taught them how to confront predators and satisfy their voracious appetites, and together they survived a devastating forest fire. As the seasons changed, Robert and the bears formed a unique relationship based on trust and respect - made all the more moving by a tragic and ironic ending.

The years from 1820 to 1920 saw the sport of bear hunting at its greatest flowering. Much of the country was still wild enough to support large numbers of both black and grizzly bears, who in turn supported a remarkable assortment of bear hunters. Some, like David Crockett and Theodore Roosevelt, became internationally famous. Others, like Wilburn Waters and Holt Collier, are almost completely forgotten, though their exploits were just as extraordinary. "The Bear Hunter's Century "brings to life the hard, thrilling lives, of these men. Not just a book of adventures, this a fascinating social history told with wit and style, a penetrating examination of the often inaccurate lore of bear hunting, and a celebration of the amazing skills developed by the best bear hunters.