A Hunt For Life's Extras: The Story of Archibald Rutledge (ISBN 0595151132)

Review of A HUNT FOR LIFE'S EXTRAS:
Archibald Rutledge was one of the best-loved Carolinians of the Twentieth Century. This biography traces the life of this talented man from his childhood on Hampton Plantation on the Santee Delta of South Carolina's Low Country to his position as a nationally acclaimed outdoors and inspirational writer and poet. He was the first poet laureate of his home state. His young life depicts encounters with bull alligators, a wild boar, and a near-miss marauding shark, as well as a humorous situation involving a Hampton ghost. His friend Prince, who was a descendant of slaves, shared Archibald's love of the outdoors and wildlife. Always, Rutledge was a hunter with compassion. For many years, Rutledge taught at Mercersburg Academy in PA. It was during this time that he fell out of favor with the South Carolina legislature because he opposed the project to dam and divert the Santee River for power generation. He did not want to see the wildlife he loved damaged. He later returned to Hampton Plantation and restored the historic homeplace. The wealth of anecdotal material in this book should appeal to middle and teen readers, the audience for which it is intended. Yet it has sufficient insight in his appreciation for life's extras to hold the attention of adults.