Kirkus Reviews QR Code
FAT MAN IN A FUR COAT and Other Bear Stories by Alvin--Adapt. Schwartz Kirkus Star

FAT MAN IN A FUR COAT and Other Bear Stories

By

Pub Date: Sept. 1st, 1984
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Everything that might interest you about bears--in an unusual compendium of true stories, whoppers, and legends, anecdotes and lore: all in Schwartz's comfortable, concise tellings and with Christiana's tantalizing, light-fingered illustrations. A Mexican tale of ""Outlaw Bears"" pits determined cowboy Pablo Romero against the notorious Star Breast--and concludes with Star Breast riding off on Pablo's horse, his limp body slung over the rump. ""Strange Encounters"" includes the 1980 shooting of a young black bear in suburban New Jersey--whereupon police headquarters was picketed (""GRIZZLY ADAMS IS GOING TO GET YOU"") and people drove with their lights on in memoriam. One section consists solely of Grizzly Adams' stories; another concentrates on ""Captives""--old-time fighting bears, past and present performing bears. The round-up of bear lore details, among other things, what to do if you meet a bear. Precise annotations, as usual; and an expansive bibliography. A simple, inspired thought made into a highly satisfying volume.