Robert Ruark

W

Worth Mathewson

Active member
Just wondering how many of this page have read Old Man and The Boy by Robert Ruark? During the early 1950s the book was printed monthly in FIELD & STREAM. I recall looking forward to each new chapter. At least to me I consider the book to be the best ever written on outdoor subjects. I still read chapters today from time to time. If you haven't read it, I would strongly suggest that you do. Best, Worth
 
[size 4] Worth,

That's certainly a classic that is always worth going back to re-read. My kids grew up having the stories in Old Man & the Boy read to them. I think the kids' favorite in that collection was the story, "A Duck Looks Different to Another Duck"

There is a second volume called The Old Man's Boy Grows Older that I added to my collection after rescuing it from a pile of books that the school library had earmarked for the trash. Librarian's reason for pitching it .... that it hadn't been checked out in years and they needed room.

Oh well, One man's trash.....
 
Bob & Worth~


I was introduced to both volumes by a good friend long ago - and occasionally re-read each. Some great and vivid writing, indeed!



My sister moved to Southport, NC - Ruark's natal territory - a couple of years ago - but I've not yet had the time for a pilgrimage.


All the best,


SJS

 
Worth -

My copies of Old Man and the Boy, and The Old Man's Boy Grows Older, are dog eared I have read, and reread them so many times.

So much wisdom, and everyday values in life, packed into each story. Every time I pick up each book I cannot put it down.


No writer gets to the heart of the matter of the human condition, better than Robert Ruark IMO.

We will not see the likes of such writing that touches the Soul of our Life Style ever again.


May he rest in peace.


"You give me just one weekend in the woods or on a boat with a man, and I can tell you if he beats his wife or is likely to run off with the company's money." - The Old Man, from You Don't Have to Shoot to Go Hunting



Best regards
Vince
 
I don't own a copy, but I check it out of library every year or so- one of the greats of the golden age. I've never hunted tidewaters, it's obvious it takes a whole different understanding than us inlanders. Dave Evenson
 
I really enjoy reading Ruark. I have read both Old Man books several times. I had a paperback copy with both books. I gave it away a few years ago. I now have four grandsons I am waiting to get old enough to read it to. I need to get a copy of each soon!

Tom
 
Let's see, how many times have I read "The Old Man and the Boy" and "The Old Man's Boy Grows Older?"

Probably more than ten times.

It is one of my annual readings in the dog days of summer or as fall sets in.

It is sad that the quail Ruark knew as a boy are now gone.

But South Port, NC is still a thriving place to fish and the shoals outside the mouth of the Cape Fear River are still dangerous.

I personally like "The Old Man and the Boy" better than Ruark's writing about Africa, but that is just a personal preference.

Ruark and McQuarrie: two of the best of the best. Both are part of my annual reading schedule.

The sad thing about Ruark is that the best years of his life may have been his youth. Like Hemingway, he became a drunk and while it is not known precisely how he died, liver disease due to extreme alcoholism is a prominent suspect.

The Old Man would have been disappointed at this end.

Larry
 

I doubt the old man would have been disappointed. He was much to wise.


The best of the Best are deeply flawed human beings

That is part of the price they pay for their greatness.

Personal struggle and demons, are fuel for ART, no matter the genre.

Writing especially, as they are handed rejection much more than other art forms.
 
Larry, It is indeed very sad how Robert's life ended. I have two accounts about that. Patrick Hemingway was a white hunter in Kenya for several years. It was during the time frame that Ruark was hunting there. Apparently there were times that Robert paid a visit to one of Pat's camp. While Pat and I were hunting sharptails in Montana I asked Pat if he ever ran into Robert. He replied: "Yes, but one needed to talk with Bob very early in the day to be able to get anything understandable from him."
Then in 1972 I spent a year in New Zealand. (Did little else but fish and drink beer) I became friends with Keith Draper, who owned a sporting goods store in Taupo. Keith was a great fan of Ruark's Old Man and The Boy. When he learned that the New Zealand tourist department was bringing Ruark down to fish Lake Taupo and write about it for American anglers, he got a place on the party that would host him.
Things went very badly. They checked him into the Lake Hotel. For three days Ruark was so drunk he was unable to fish. Then finally had to almost carry him to a boat to cross over to the western bays. He was in no condition to fish. So they got a trout from another angler, managed to get Ruark to hold it for photographs. They them took him back to the hotel, and it was several days before he was able to leave. He did write an article about it for FIELD & STREAM, which was totally made up as he didn't fish. With the article was the photograph. If one knows the story behind it, it is plain to see that Ruark was in very bad shape.
Again, all very sad. Best, Worth
 
Yes, I have both OLD MAN books in my bedroom bookcase, alongside Gordon McQuarrie and Gene Hill. Have read and re-read them all many times over. I've read the LOST CLASSICS, but loaned it out and never got it back. I've stopped loaning good books since then! Have bought copies to give as gifts on numerous occasions.

The one thing I've not yet done is take my wife to stay at the Robert Ruark Inn B&B in Southport...rode by it once.

Tight lines to all.
 
Both are on my bookshelf along with most of his other books, including...Poor No More, Something Of Value, Uhuru, The Honey Badger, Horn Of The Hunter, and Use Enough Gun
 
Yes! I forgot about THE HONEY BADGER, and SOMETHING OF VALUE--both of them are good books. I have to wonder if Badger isnt some sort of near auto-biographical story? The main character was, I felt, a completely self centered #1 arse-hole. Something of value was just gruesome. Both books on my hallway shelf.
 
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