Wildmen, Wobblies & Whistle Punks: Stewart Holbrook's Lowbrow Northwest

I found this book in my youth ministers office after he moved out. Evidently, it was a gift and obviously it was never read. Ready to give it the heave-ho into the trashcan, I paused and looked at it again. Am I glad it did- it is a delightful book.It is a collection of short stories about the history of the Pacific Northwest up to the early twentieth century. A third generation Oregonian, thought I knew Northwest history, but this book filled me in a side of history never taught in school. For instance, Holbrooks tells us of outlaw Jim Turnow who he describes as the most crafty and dangerous man ever to roam the timbered reaches of the Pacific Northwest- a cold blooded killer who had a reign of terror in Grays Harbor. Compare this killer to the story of Miss Fern Hobbs, a twenty-five year old, 104-pound secretary to Governor West, who single handily disarmed and brought peace to lawless mining town of Copperfield Oregon. By far, my favorite story is about The Death and Times of Joshua the Prophet. A charismatic leader who lead astray the women of Corvallis Oregon, the ending of this story is both surprising and tragic.Holbrook takes us to another time and to another culture. His prose is beautiful; it is a work of art. So put on your cartharts and cork boots and flannel shirt and tin hat, this is a great read. Even if you are not from the Pacific Northwest, you will be captivated by these stories. Buy this book and place it in your guest room. Your guests will thank you for a great read.

This is an anthology of some of Holbrook's mid-1900's articles about the development of the NW around the turn of the last century. Holbrook's prose is easy-reading but carries well-researched along with humor and style. Each chapter is a treat!If you haven't read Holbrook before, who should I compare him to?..... Well, if Ken Burns was primarily a writer, I think that he might produce similar stuff.There is a bonus in the introduction. The editor's lengthy piece fills us in on who Stewart H Holbrook was and is fascinating reading in itself. This writer's work deserves further resurrection.