The Flaming Forest

Curwoods adventure writing followed in the tradition of Jack London. Curwood set many of his works in the wilds of the Great Northwest and often used animals as lead characters (Kazan; Baree Son of Kazan The Grizzly King and Nomads of the North). Many of Curwoods adventure novels also feature romance as primary or secondary plot consideration. This approach gave his work broad commercial appeal; his novels ranked on many best-seller lists in the early and mid 1920s. One of his most successful books was his 1919 novel The Rivers End. The book sold more than 100000 copies and was the fourth best-selling title of the year in the United States according to Publishers Weekly. Curwoods short stories and other pieces were published in various literary and popular magazines throughout his career. His bibliography includes more than 200 such articles short stories and serializations. His work was also published in Canada and the United Kingdom. Some of his books were translated into French Italian Russian Spanish Dutch Swedish Finnish Czech and Polish and published in those respective countries. Over one hundred and eighty movies have been based on or inspired by Curwoods novels and short stories. Curwoods story Wapi the Walrus was adapted for film three times. The first was as Back to Gods Country (1919) starring Nell Shipman as a brave and adventurous woman in the wilds of the North. Another version by the same title was released in 1927 and again by this title in 1953. A young John Wayne and Noah Beery Jr. starred in the 1934 film The Trail Beyond based on Curwoods novel The Wolf Hunters. Filmmakers produced a film series featuring Kirby Grant as Mountie Corporal Rod Webb assisted by his dog Chinook; they made a total of ten films. In the late 20th century French director Jean-Jacques Annaud adapted Curwoods 1916 novel The Grizzly King as the film The Bear (1988). The films success prompted a revival of interest in Curwoods books.