Customer Reviews

Wilderness Beginnings

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A true life adventure of a young German immigrant who migrates to the wilderness of British Columbia during the mid 1930's. The adventures and brushes with death from the natural elements remind me of Jack London's "Call of the Wild".

A wonderful true-life story of the adventures of a young German immigrant who becomes a 20th century pioneer in British Columbia. After falling in love with the BC landscape and learning to live in harmony with the forces of nature, he returns to his home in Germany to marry his sweetheart. They both return to BC to share the natural beauty of the country and indure the challenges of the Great Depression, which are intensified by the general distrust of Germans in Canada as Hitler invades Europe, and Canada and the United States are drawn into World War II. Inspite of these obstacles, Paul and Grete Hertel raise a family and eventually settle on a farm on Vancouver Island.

It was with a sense of sadness when I finished this story, knowing that I could no longer look forward to reading any further adventures of the Hertel family. I wish to thank the author for sharing this fasinating story of her father's early years in British Columbia.

I truly loved this book. For once, because it's part of my own past, Paul Hertel was my mother's uncle. And second, I like Mrs. Falkenhagens style. It was great for me to learn about my ancestors. Now I understand much better my own urge to discover the world.

"Wilderness Beginnings" is truly an adventure story about two people facing seemingly insurmountable odds both in Pre-WWII Germany and in the wilderness of British Columbia during the 1930's. This true-life book is extremely well written and an easy read. The story draws you in from the start and holds your attention throughout the remarkable journey. There are times it is difficult to believe this is not fiction. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.