Philip Holden Stories: Part One

Author: Philip Holden Illustrator: Tony Oliver, Bob Kerr

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The late Philip Holden was a much-loved author of hunting books, most renowned for Rifle and Pack. Over his lifetime, he penned 57 works exploring hunting, fishing, farming, the High Country, and photography. A select few were crafted for younger readers, and in this review, split across two blog posts, I focus on his captivating trilogy about a wild red deer growing up in New Zealand's High Country: Fawn, Stag, and White Patch.

Fawn

From the inside front flap: "The red deer fawn, marked by a distinctive white patch on one side, was born in a clearing beyond some river-flats on the South Island of New Zealand during the first week of December, the summer of the southern hemisphere. This is the story, by turns placid, perilous, dramatic, joyous, cruel—and always realistic. The life of a red deer in New Zealand is a constant struggle against unpredictable dangers. There are the natural hazards of forest and bushland - early in life, White Patch encounters a fierce wild boar, and during his first winter, he experiences the treachery of the deep snow. There are the remorseless rules of survival of his own kind - when White Patch and his mother join the herd of a fourteen-point stag, they watch the inevitable battle to the death when another stag tries to usurp the hinds. Above all, there is ultimate danger: Man and his gun. The hunter stalking the countryside; the fifleman droning overhead by helicopter...

National Library of NZ Entry

The story chronicles the first year of a red deer's life in a remote South Island wilderness. The narrative meanders between serene moments of the hind and fawn's peaceful existence, sudden bursts of action, and scenes of peril. Holden weaves in extensive education about red deer habits through engaging storytelling. He portrays life unflinchingly, refusing to sugarcoat harsh realities: death, mating cycles, and hunting in all its forms, both ethical and brutal. Some hunting violence is starkly graphic, such as when the mother is shot.

A wonderful introduction is red deer and their habits, but not for younger, sensitive readers.

Example of a page from "Fawn"

Stag

From the inside front flap: "White Patch is a red deer, born in a clearing beyond some river-flats on the South Island of New Zealand. The first year of his life was a constant struggle against unpredictable dangers, but he survived. White Patch is five years old when this story, the sequel to Fawn, opens. He has grown into a magnificent sixteen-pointer, prized by professional deer hunters. Ruled by his instincts and the changing seasons, he is returning to the valley of his birth. The reader is introduced to Lance Miller early in the story. He is a deer culler, or professional deer hunter, and he is hunting in the valley when White Patch returns. He relentlessly tracks the magnificent sixteen-pointer, determined to claim his antlers as a much-prized trophy. White Patch's wanderings are thwarted by many dangers, and there are many heart-stopping encounters which only luck and his strong instinct for survival see him through. But the most awesome danger is man, with his rifles and his helicopters, and the paths of White Patch and Lance Miller inexorably converge to a final dramatic meeting."

National Library of NZ Entry

White Patch, now a grand and rare 16-pointer red stag at five years old, returns to his birthplace to feed and mate, only to be spotted by professional culler Lance Miller. The book delves into highly detailed explanations of deer mating habits, rendered in Holden's classic, straightforward style.

It builds to a dramatic, unexpected ending. Though more a hunting book than pure nature writing, it remains a gripping read with occasional mild cursing (e.g., the word "damn"). Suitable for readers 12 and up.

White Patch

From the inside front flap: "White Patch has become a legend. White Pach is a red deer at the height of his maturity - a magnificent specimen with sixteen points to his huge antlers.

He lives far from civilisation in rugged, mountainous country, yet he lives in constant danger. His antlers are coveted by every trophy-hunter who has ever heard of him. He is pursued by a pack of wild dogs, led by the huge, savage, half-crazed Ragnor. He is attacked from the air by helicopter-borne Bob Norris, who is determined to capture the stag for this deer farm.

And, most dangerously of all, he is tracked by Scotsman Jim Small, a crack professional deer hunter, whose desire to secure White Pactch's antlers as a trophy amounts to an obsession.

Philip Holden has written a fast-paced, exciting story in which the harsh reality and strange beauty of nature in the wild are wonderfully evoked.

This classic tale of hunter and hunted, set in the remote peaks and valleys of the South Island of New Zealand, completes the trilogy begun with FAWN and STAG, and will appeal to readers of every age, young and old."

National Library of NZ Entry

The now-legendary 16-pointer reaches the peak of maturity and fame, relentlessly pursued by culler Jim Small, helicopter pilot and live-capture specialist Bob Norris, and a wild dog pack led by the ferocious Ragnor. This instalment is a thrilling page-turner; I couldn't put it down.

It features intense graphic violence, including hunting scenes and animal conflicts, making it unsuitable for sensitive readers. Holden thoughtfully addresses hunting ethics: the killing of hinds with fawns, live capture methods, trap-setting, and helicopter risks.

Notes for parents: Mild curse words appear sparingly ("damn," "hell," and "arse"). The Lord's name is taken in vain once, and there's a brief reference to a Playboy magazine. Recommended for ages 12 and older.

I highly recommend this trilogy for readers 12 and older, especially those who love fishing, hunting, or the outdoors. Even reluctant young readers will be drawn in by Holden's clear, action-focused prose; characters and excitement take centre stage, while vivid yet concise scenic descriptions pull you into the wild without overwhelming detail.

Though this isn't my usual genre, I thoroughly enjoyed the series and found myself immersed in White Patch's world. I'm eager to explore more of Holden's work in the next post, which will cover three additional titles for younger readers: Lucy's Bear, Pack and Rifle, and Razorback.

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