The Tiger

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
By John Vaillant
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. 329 pgs. Nonfiction

In 1997, in a small outpost of Russian Siberia, a tiger stalked and devoured his human prey. Though tigers are universally considered dangerous carnivores this type of predatory behavior is actually very rare and after the disturbingly small amount of human remains are discovered following the attack, Yuri Trush an investigator for Inspection Tiger is called in to make sure no one else suffers the same fate. The roles of hunter and prey are constantly shifting as this gripping story unfolds. But beyond this tiger and this hunt, author John Vaillant presents a fascinating look at a relatively unknown portion of the world and the people who call it home despite its ever present dangers and hardships.

This is one of the best pieces of nonfiction I have read in years. There was barely a moment when the narrative didn’t fascinate me. The people, the wildlife, and the frozen wasteland of Siberia are all so unbelievably untamed and wild that I could barely believe I was reading a, not only true, but a modern story. I can enthusiastically recommend this to just about anyone.

CZ