Dersu the Trapper (Recovered Classics)

Not long ago, I recorded a movie on TCM called “Dersu Uzula.” I’d not heard of it and its description looked interesting.I loved it. Later, I very much regretted deleting the recording because I thought I could find it on DVD. That didn’t pan out. There is not a certifiably good copy available. Hopefully, this will be rectified soon.I ordered the “recovered classic” from Amazon. The novel (a journal) was originally published in 1941 in Russia and that’s pretty much where it stayed. It was finally translated into English more than 50 years later.At age 67, there have been few times in my life when I was happy to see the movie before I actually read the book (“Coraline” was one of those times).I am in the Second Expedition (of three) part of the novel now. It is wonderful and I can picture Dersu Uzala (the trapper) and Vladimir Klavdievich Arseniev (the captain) in my mind as they begin and renew their friendship. I believe I can safely say that this will be one of the best novels I have ever read in my life.If anyone with any leverage at TCM happens to read this, please show that movie again.

An enthralling tale! It is really close to a page-turner, which I didn't expect with a chronicle of an early Russian explorer/naturalist/surveyor. Dersu himself is a charming fellow and wiser than anyone around him, made even more interesting by the respect and affection shown by the Russians he is guiding. Aseniev's descriptions of the flora and fauna he encounters are delightful and he tells of the hardships of his journeys in a sometimes matter-of-fact way, even when they are life-threatening. He loses his composure rarely, as is proper for a good expedition leader. There are also some sad passages about the terribly abused native peoples that Arseniev passes in his wilderness treks, shocking until you remember that all native peoples around the world have had the same cruel existence at the hands of invading "civilized" groups. In this particular region, they are usually Chinese trappers and merchants, as the border is very close, rather than Russians. I started to watch the film based on this book (the full 1961 movie, "Dersu Uzala", is on Youtube), but the English captions are difficult to follow while still watching the film. I'll get back to it, though, as it's highly recommended. The Kurosawa version of 1975 can be seen here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzmn4n_dersu-uzala-1975-pt-1_creation . The photo on the cover was taken on location during the filming of the Kurosawa version. I don't think I would get nearly as much out of the film if I hadn't read the book, first, because this is a time and place that's very obscure to Westerners - and even some Russians.

This a beautifully story about the never ending battle between good and evil. The age-old contest between the sophisticated man, the city dweller and the free and unspoiled man of the wilds. It has been told many times. Unfortunately, since this is a Russian Novel evil wins and the good man, Dersu, dies. Arseniev obviously recognized Dersu as the noblest of all men and desired to protect him from the dangers of a modern society in vain. One often hears about an attempt "to find just one good man". Arseniev did find that man but civilization destroyed him as it seems to have done since the beginning of time. This tale is truly a masterpiece. This reader was enthralled by the seemingly effortless but beautifully descriptive imagery of Arseniev's accounts of his, and Dersu's, journeys through the wilderness. It broke my heart to learn of Dersu's death. however, Dersu was spared the cruelty of living through old age infirmities in the same manner as do the wild animals in the taiga. Life must move on. No wonder Kurosawa chose to make a movie about this absolutely beautiful story. Now I know that I must see the Kurosawa movie. The photograph on the front cover is perfect for this story. I recommend this book for all readers. It is priceless!

I borrowed a copy of this book and read it many years ago and while I don't remember it in detail at this moment (and I have just started to read it again) I remembered enjoying it so much that I wanted a copy of my own.I have great admiration for those who master one, or a group of skills, to such a degree that they seem magical to the rest of us. This is the story of such a person. I have been a tracker for many years and was lucky enough to have been a man-tracker student of the Texas Ranger, Ab Taylor, so my admiration for the story of someone who has taken that to a level that is simply elegant, may be hard for some to relate to. Even so, it is a good read about the "Wild, Wild East" that you never realized existed.I am a fairly successful big game hunter and can relate to what it takes to develop the many outdoor skills that Dersu, or anyone that lives closer to the earth than we do, had to hone to survive. Yesterday, it was very good for me to be able to tell that a mountain lion was ahead of me and tracking the same bull elk that I was. It completely changed the game (pun intended). If this type of material is of interest to you, please don't forget to read "Ishi, in two worlds" also.

Dersau the Trapper is an amazing book. I am glad to see it has been "recovered."Dersau is a native aboriginal of Siberia. Dersau forms a friendship with a "captain" in the Russian military as they together explore the forests and wilds of eastern Siberia, encountering weather, natives, invaders, rivers, forest and other explorers. The nature lore is abundant and much of it not well know. e.g. Dersau says, "The birds are eating too fast." meaning there is a major storm acoming. And for five full days the entire detachment is blocked into their tents by a vicious winter storm. This area of Siberia apparently has a similar history to the American West, and parallels to Fremont and other American explorers are easily seen. The book is a little thick, but reads well. Note, there is a Russian movie of this book available on Amazon.

Probably one of the best books on surveying in the wilds of Manchuria - of course the hero of the book is Dersu Ursala - a true woodsman in the same bracket as crocket etc., - very good on how man destroys the natural environment is his perennial seach for greenbacks - also the effects of colonialisation on indigenous populations - in this case by the Chinese. A bit boys own stuff but even so - lovely descriptions of the local flora etc., but the author. By the way - its taken from his journals so is based on real life stuff at the beginning of the 20th century -well deserves the title - recovered classic

If you've come to the book via Kurosawa's film you won't be disappointed.As the film is very much from Arsenyev's point-of-view there is an instant rapport with the author. If anything, the book explains the evolving friendship between the Russian and the Gold better than the film, an advantage of the written medium.The book is very good on natural history and the similarity of flora and fauna, even to British readers, in the temperate forest. Perhaps the only difficulty in coming from film to book is in creating any picture of Dersu different to the superb performance by Maxim Munzuk in the film.

Memorable film. Hoping now that the book is as good. Next day delivery from Amazon Prime.

a Classic book

This book was packaged well and delivered in good condition. The DVD was in Spanish and not English which was a disappointment but still a very good product.