Farley Mowat Books In Order of release

Farley Mowat Books In Order Of Release

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Farley Mowat, often called Canada’s most beloved (and controversial) nature writer, spent his life championing the wilderness and the creatures—and people—who call it home. With over 40 books to his name, his works blend gripping storytelling, sharp humor, fierce environmental advocacy, and a stubborn refusal to let governments or corporations have the last word.

Whether you’re new to Mowat or a longtime fan looking to read chronologically, this guide gives you Farley Mowat books in order (publication order), plus quick notes on why each one matters.

List Of Farley Mowat Books In Order by Year

Farley Mowat Books In Order by Year
Farley Mowat Books In Order by Year

Discover the complete list of Farley Mowat books in order by year, perfect for readers exploring his powerful storytelling, nature writing, and adventure classics. This guide helps you navigate his works chronologically, understand his themes, and pick the best titles to start with—ideal for fans, researchers, and anyone wanting to explore Farley Mowat’s unforgettable literary journey.

# Year Title Series / Notes
The Barrens / Top of the World Trilogy (Children’s/YA Adventure)
1 1956 Lost in the Barrens Book 1
2 1966 The Curse of the Viking Grave Book 2 – direct sequel
3 1975 The Snow Walker Short stories set in the same world (sometimes considered Book 3)
Ihalmiut Inuit (People of the Deer) Series
1 1952 People of the Deer The groundbreaking first book
2 1959 The Desperate People Sequel – tragic aftermath
3 2000 Walking on the Land Final return to the Ihalmiut decades later
Maritime / Salvage Tug Books
1 1958 The Grey Seas Under Foundation Franklin salvage tug
2 1961 The Serpent’s Coil Same tug vs. hurricanes
Autobiographical “Dog” & Childhood Memoirs
1 1993 Born Naked Childhood in Ontario & Saskatchewan
2 1957 The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be The famous story of Mutt
3 1961 Owls in the Family Wol and Weeps, the owls
4 1989 The New Founde Land Newfoundland through his dogs’ eyes
War Memoirs
1 1955 The Regiment WWII with the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment
2 1979 And No Birds Sang Personal combat memoir (Italy 1943–1945)
3 1995 Aftermath Returning to European battlefields 50 years later
4 1992 My Father’s Son Letters & relationship with his father during/after the war
Newfoundland Humor & Life
1 1969 The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float The infamous Happy Adventure schooner
2 2006 Bay of Spirits Love story with Claire in Cape Breton
Major Environmental Works (Standalones)
1963 Never Cry Wolf The book that changed wolf conservation forever
1972 A Whale for the Killing The stranded fin whale in Newfoundland
1984 Sea of Slaughter 500 years of destruction in the North Atlantic
Other Notable Standalones
1965 Westviking Norse exploration of North America
1987 Woman in the Mists Biography of Dian Fossey
1998 The Farfarers Pre-Norse “Alban” voyages (controversial theory)
2008 Otherwise Final reflections (his last book)

Farley Mowat Books in Publication Order

Farley Mowat Books In Order of release
Farley Mowat Books In Order of Release
  1. People of the Deer (1952) Mowat’s explosive debut about the Ihalmiut Inuit of the Barrens. It put him on the map—and made the Canadian government furious.
  2. The Regiment (1955), A WWII memoir of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (non-fiction, but reads like a war novel).
  3. Lost in the Barrens (1956) Classic children’s/YA adventure (winner of the Governor General’s Award). Two boys—one Cree, one white—survive the subarctic wilderness.
  4. The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be (1957) Hilarious and heartwarming memoir about Mutt, the world’s most eccentric dog. Pure joy.
  5. The Grey Seas Under (1958:) The true story of the salvage tug Foundation Franklin. High-seas heroism at its finest.
  6. The Desperate People (1959) Devastating follow-up to People of the Deer—what happened to the Ihalmiut after government “help.”
  7. Owls in the Family (1961) Another beloved children’s book about two mischievous great horned owls in Saskatchewan.
  8. The Serpent’s Coil (1961) More maritime drama with the same salvage tug surviving hurricanes.
  9. Never Cry Wolf (1963) – His most famous book. Ok dispatched to the Arctic to prove wolves were killing caribou, Mowat discovered the opposite. A game-changer for wolf conservation (and later a Disney film).
  10. Westviking (1965) The Norse exploration of North America—history written like a thriller.
  11. The Curse of the Viking Grave (1966) Sequel to Lost in the Barrens—Jamie and Awasin return.
  12. Canada North (1967) A manifesto (with gorgeous photos) about the true Canadian North.
  13. The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float (19:A: A laugh-out-loud memoir of trying to sail a leaky schooner around Newfoundland. A Canadian classic.
  14. The Polar Passion (1967, expanded 1973), Tales of Arctic exploration.
  15. Tundra (1973) Coffee-table book with stunning photography.
  16. A Whale for the Killing (1972) Heart-wrenching exposé of a stranded fin whale slaughtered in Newfoundland. Fue, outraged a nation.
  17. Wake of the Great Sealers (1973) Stories and art of the Newfoundland seal hunt (the traditional Inuit kind, not the commercial slaughter).
  18. The Snow Walker (1975) Short story collection set in the Arctic—later adapted into a beautiful film.
  19. And No Birds Sang (1979) is Mowat’s raw, unflinching memoir of fighting in WWII Italy. One of his darkest and best.
  20. Sea of Slaughter (1984) – Essential environmental reading: A 500-year chronicle of human devastation of North Atlantic wildlife. Brutal, brilliant, still relevant.
  21. My Discovery of America (1985) Short, furious rant after the U.S. denied him entry in 1985 for his “subversive” views.
  22. Woman in the Mists (1987) Biography of Dian Fossey and her work with mountain gorillas.
  23. The New Founde Land (1989) Love letter to Newfoundland through the eyes of its dogs.
  24. Rescue the Earth! (1990) Conversations with young environmentalists.
  25. My Father’s Son (1992) Memoir of his complicated relationship with his father.
  26. Born Naked (1993) Delightful childhood memoir (the “prequel” to The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be).
  27. Aftermath (1995:) Returning to Europe 50 years after WWII.
  28. The Farfarers (1998) Controversial theory that pre-Norse Europeans (the “Alban”) reached North America.
  29. Walking on the Land (2000) Return to the Ihalmiut and reckoning with the past.
  30. High Latitudes (2002) A sweeping personal memoir of his life in the North.
  31. No Man’s River (2004) Adventures on the Dubawnt River with a Métis family.
  32. Bay of Spirits (2006) Love story with his second wife, Claire, and their life in Cape Breton.
  33. Otherwise (2008) – His final book, ok Reflections on Life, Death, and the Planet at age 87. A beautiful goodbye.

Recommended Reading Paths

New to Farley Mowat? Try these starter packs:

For Nature & Wolves Never Cry Wolf → Sea of Slaughter → A Whale for the Killing

For Humor & Heart The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be → The Boat Who Wouldn’t Float → Born Naked → Owls in the Family

For Arctic & Indigenous Stor:ies People of the Deer → The Desperate People → The Snow Walker → Walking on the Land

For Adventure-Loving Kids (or Kids at Heart) Lost in the Barrens → The Curse of the Viking Grave → Owls in the Family

For War & Personal Memoir And No Birds Sang → My Father’s Son → Otherwise

Farley Mowat never wrote a dull page. His books make you laugh, rage, cry, and—most importantly—care deeply about the natural world. Grab one, start anywhere, and let the old wolf lead the way.

Which Farley Mowat book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to know! 🐺📚

(Last updated November 2025 – many of his classics are now available in beautiful new editions and ebooks.)

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