City Wolves

Written by Dorris Heffron

Narrated by Lisa Cordileone

A moving historical tale and remarkable literary achievement, City Wolves is the story of Canada’s first woman veterinarian, Meg Wilkinson. Born in 1870 on a farm near Halifax, Meg’s childhood experience with wolves makes her determined to be a veterinarian. Supported by the seemingly eccentric Randolph Oliphant and inspired by the ancient Inuit who first turned wolves into sled dogs, Meg surpasses the horse doctors at vet college and becomes the notorious ’dog doctor of Halifax’ in the 1890s. After her unusual marriage ends abruptly in Boston, Meg travels to Vancouver and up to the Yukon, seeking the legendary sled dogs. Arriving at the beginning of the Klondike gold rush, she makes her way amidst Mounties, dance hall girls, Klondike Kings, mushers, priests and swindlers…all the mangy and magnificent people, dogs and spirits that populated raucous Dawson City. Observed through the restless spirit of Inuit Ike, this is lively, insightful, historical fiction, subtly revealing the wolf-like nature of humans and the human nature of wolves. Both earthy and reflective, City Wolves is an important story told with compassion, humour and unflinching realism. In this her fifth novel, Dorris Heffron has created a wide range of unforgettable characters and achieved a breadth of vision exploring the deep conflicts and interconnection of social beings in a way that is uniquely Canadian and profoundly universal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Apr 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094455457

Dorris Heffron

Dorris Heffron was born in Noranda, Quebec. While teaching for Oxford University throughout the seventies, she wrote three novels about teenagers which were internationally acclaimed as pioneers of young adult literature. Returning to Canada in 1980, she became an active member of writers' organizations and wrote the popular adult novel, A Shark in the House. She lives with her pack and sled dogs at Little Creek Wolf Range near Collingwood, Ontario.

Reviews for City Wolves

[Tiffany H · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not reading a book inside of a book would’ve helped.

At times it was hard to keep up with what was happening because it sounded like the person reading this started reading to early before they started recording. I did like some of the historical events.

[LynneGauthier · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed learning about the gold rush towns and I liked the characters in the story. It helped me gain appreciation for what my great grandmother’s life would have been like on a rural farm in Northern Maine. Some of the romance parts moved a bit slow for me. Overall a good book.

[Tara Witt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book .. engrossing and worth the read .. well written and well narrated.

[Lyn Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Characters! Humans, the wolves, sled dogs and the spirits Ike and his wife. Since I only have listened to the audible I cannot correctly spell all the wonderful characters. I wished a little less of Alice but do understand the necessity of her vile spirit as part of Meg’s moral motivations. This book is a wonderful journey of the 1800s in the rugged Canadian wilds before and during the gold rush years. I suspect I am cheating the author of a better review.

[Barbara Adams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing story. I was gripped.
I was sorry when it finished.

[Donna Larson Christian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a delightful book!!! I hated to see it end. VERY well written and read. I could just see the area there since we took a Alaska cruise several years ago in my mind. Sagway was a great stop along the way. Driving back into the Yukan area really showed us how very very desolate it is even now.