Many of you are already aware of the beautiful and true story of an Alaskan wolf named Romeo who became an urban legend around the world. Because of his gentle nature and lack of fear of tourists and the local people, Romeo had taught thousands of people that wolves are playful and not vicious killers to be feared. On the contrary their need to be accepted and loved is just as vital to living fulfilled lives as it is for humans.

Author and photographer, John Hyde, thought of Romeo as more than a friend, and much much more than the lone wolf he photographed every winter for nearly a decade along the lake shores in the mountainous and stunningly beautiful area of Alaska.

He wrote a book about this amazing wolf and describes his feelings toward Romeo in the preface of it as this, "The first time I met Romeo face to face, close enough that we could stare into each others eyes, I felt I was sitting on the edge of two worlds: one so wild and free I might never be able to comprehend its true significance, the other civilized, which I was driven to escape from on a regular basis."

He goes on to say, "Romeo shared our world to our delight and without malice. We, on the other hand, are often too busy thoughtlessly destroying wilderness habitats in Alaska and elsewhere. Romeo's life, the life of a wild carnivore, as it is described in this book in both clear and scientific language, was unique. He lived on the edge of the wilderness and of our so called civilization, where the two often clashed both in benign and more aggressive ways. When they did it was often his gentle behavior that illuminated our own human ignorance and latent aggression toward his or any another wild species."

The name of the book,'The Story of an Alaskan Wolf' is a story that recounts Romeo's life from a tragic and violent beginning to its equally tragic end at the hands of humans for whom he posed no threat. It is also the book of a remarkable photographer whose portraits of the wild and of Romeo are as fascinating as the story is unique.


Romeo's story began as an orphaned and lone wolf who chose his territory close to the town of Juneau. In the wintertime he played with his cousins, the dogs, that accompanied their owners as they snow-shoed and skied throughout his territory every winter. Romeo had a playful and loving soul that the residents of Juneau loved and many adopted him as part of their community.

The book is a compelling story that will be treasured by those who love wolves, wildlife and the wilderness. It is also a tribute to a very special wolf whose life came to be treasured by those who knew him and whose life bridged the gap between the wild and the 'civilized' world of humans. Romeo stands as an example to all of us in our struggle for a better and more sustainable world.

This book would make a great holiday gift for any wolf lovers on your list or as a gift to yourself. Included below is some information on how to purchase it if you are interested.