The River Why

Since its publication by Sierra Club Books nearly two decades ago,The River Whyhas become a classic, standing with Norman Maclean'sA River Runs Through Itas the most-read fiction about fly-fishing of our era. Duncan's protagonist, Gus Orviston, is an irreverent young flyfisherman--a vibrant character who makes us laugh easily and feel deeply, and who speaks with startling truth about the way we live. Leaving behind a madcap, fishing-obsessed family, Gus embarks on an extraordinary voyage of self-discovery along his beloved Oregon rivers. What he unexpectedly finds is man's wanton destruction of nature and a burning desire to commit himself to its preservation. The River Whyis a tale that gives a contemporary voice to the concerns and hopes of all living things on this beautiful, watery planet. It is the story of one man's search for meaning, for love, and for a sane way to live.

David James Duncan is the author of The Brothers K, an American Library Association Best Books Award winner and a New York Times Notable Book; River Teeth, a memoir and collection of stories; and My Story as Told by Water, a 2001 National Book Award finalist. Duncan's work has appeared in Harper's, Outside, Orion, The Sun, Sierra, Big Sky Journal, Northern Lights, Gray's Sporting Journal, and many other publications. He lives with his family beside a Montana trout stream.