Down the Wild Cape Fear - by Philip Gerard (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In Down the Wild Cape Fear, novelist and nonfiction writer Philip Gerard invites readers onto the fabled waters of the Cape Fear River and guides them on the 200-mile voyage from the confluence of the Deep and Haw Rivers at Mermaid Point all the way to the Cape of Fear on Bald Head Island. Accompanying the author by canoe and powerboat are a cadre of people passionate about the river, among them a river guide, a photographer, a biologist, a river keeper, and a boat captain. Historical voices also lend their wisdom to our understanding of this river, which has been a main artery of commerce, culture, settlement, and war for the entire region since it was first discovered by Verrazzano in 1524.

Gerard explores the myriad environmental and political issues being played out along the waters of the Cape Fear. These include commerce and environmental stewardship, wilderness and development, suburban sprawl and the decline and renaissance of inner cities, and private rights versus the public good.

Review Quotes

"A reading journey that no one who loves North Carolina should pass by." -- D.G. Martin One on One

"An adventure story paired with a view of the ecology, history, development, and industry along a vital river that runs from the core of North Carolina to the coast. Gerard uses glittering, evocative prose to recount his travels by canoe and powerboat down the Wild Cape Fear River with a guide, biologist, photographer, and others. . . . This is a compelling story that offers a striking and thoughtful look at the many environmental, political, and commercial issues affecting this region and the waterway that feeds it." -- ForeWord Reviews

"By the book's end we get a sense of the innumerable interconnections that make the region a special, singular place." -- North Carolina Literary Review

"Equal parts historical survey, river adventure and nature walk, it's a fascinating trip down North Carolina's most storied river." -- Raleigh News and Observer

"Gerard takes readers with him on a 200-mile trip down the Cape Fear River. . . [and] it's obvious that his book was labor of love." -- Southern Pines Pilot

"Gerard's descriptions of river life are wonderfully written and his narration of historical events -- from the early Spanish explorers to English settlers and from Revolutionary War and Civil War events to twentieth-century racial strife and environmental problems -- are grippingly told." -- Lawrence Earley, author of Looking for Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest

"If you've ever fallen in love with a lake, river, or stretch of shore, you'll enjoy this trip down the Cape Fear with Philip Gerard. Between the characters he meets, the historical tales, the beautifully described natural encounters, and the river-running adventures, it's as varied and engaging as a long day spent drifting downstream." -- Jan DeBlieu, author of Year of the Comets: A Journey from Sadness to the Stars

"Like a river itself, winding its way through history and biology, politics, and preservation, this book will appeal to both nature lovers and those living in and near the Cape Fear watershed." -- Library Journal

"Philip Gerard is an explorer, a philosopher, a historian -- and a dazzling angel of a writer. In Down the Wild Cape Fear, he takes us on a beguiling journey teeming with alligators and eagles, with mystery and murder and disaster, and with the ghosts of pirates, slaves, and doomed soldiers. By the time he reaches the ocean, Gerard has ridden the current across four centuries of our bloody, confounding past. This is a true adventure story, haunting and unforgettable, perfect for reading by firelight on a stormy night when lightning dances in the distance." -- Thomas French, author of Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives

"This is simply the best piece of writing about [the Cape Fear] river that I've read." -- Fayetteville Observer

About the Author

Philip Gerard is author of three novels and five books of nonfiction including The Patron Saint of Dreams and is professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He lives on Whiskey Creek near the Intracoastal Waterway and sails his sloop Suspense on the Atlantic Ocean.