Immortalized in words and song, the symbol of the great, untreaded Wilderness, the shores surrounding Lake Superior rustle with stories of gregarious legend, unlikely heroes, quiet sorrow, and unmatched feats of bravery and adventure. From the earliest European records of the world's largest body of fresh, open water, to the ghostly anecdotes of the men lost in her freezing waters, Peter Unwin records the stories of the great Superior and the people who, over centuries, have determined to make it their home. In short, cultivating chapters, Unwin lays out the history of the lake and its lands, illuminating the stories of the copper stained greed of men who sought the Ontonagon Boulder, the strangling dread of Mishipizheu, the maddening determination of voyageurs as they packed 400 pounds across rugged earth and choppy water, and the hollow ache of loss on the greatest of inland seas. All the ferociousness of the Wolf's Head the lake embodies is laid out here, filled with extraordinary facts, humorous anecdotes, and an understanding of the people who have chosen to live along its shores. In simple, witty language that endears and engages, Peter Unwin brings Lake Superior to life like no other writer can, delivering in breathless vibrancy, the history of the Wolf's Head.

Peter Unwin was born in Sheffield, England, and raised in Southern Ontario. He studied at Carleton University in Ottawa. His fiction includes the short story collection The Rock Farmers, which was shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and the novel Nine Bells for a Man. His non-fiction includes The Wolf’s Head: Writing Lake Superior and Hard Surface: In Search of the Canadian Road. He has travelled extensively in the Canadian north. Currently, he is a Master’s candidate in Culture and Communications at York and Ryerson universities. An avid practitioner of martial arts, baseball, and literature, he lives in Toronto with his wife and two daughters.

Peter Unwin's profile page

“Peter Unwin’s lively and engaging writing style gives a fresh perspective on Lake Superior … What Unwin has done is gather together all those many and disparate reminisences to provide an overall look at the history of people who have been so influenced by this particular confluence of water and rock and trees. He does it with skill and enthusiasm, and the energy shows in his delight in the odd or telling detail … This is a delightful book, of interest to … anyone who enjoys a good story, well told.”

The Chronicle-Journal