Stronghold: One Man’s Quest to Save the World’s Wild Salmon

In this captivating narrative, novelist Malarkey (An Obvious Enchantment) explores global salmon conservation through the prism of her enigmatic cousin Guido Rahr. A master fly fisherman, Rahr realized in 1989 the steelhead and salmon he adored were becoming extinct. Transforming from a fishing bum into a Yale-educated environmentalist, he created the Wild Salmon Center nonprofit to preserve “stronghold” rivers unspoiled by human development found in only a few places, most notably Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. Rahr’s passion for the outdoors and dogged pursuit of sponsors puts him in the company of such notables as Harrison Ford and Ted Turner as well as fearsome Russian oligarchs—all of whom are charmed by the fly fisherman’s objective to save fish and wildlife habitat—and allows him to gain entrée to untouched rivers and experience the “sacred moment” of catching an elusive 70-pound taimen. Political corruption and Russian gamesmanship, however, end his organization’s work in the country, but its “conservation wins” include aiding in getting “over 70 percent of Russian salmon fisheries MSC [Marine Stewardship Council] certified” and “the designation of six new national or regional parks in salmon strongholds.” Malarkey effortlessly glides between topics, making for an excellent mix of adventure, geopolitical deal making, and ecological and environmental reporting. (July)