NPR's Book of the Day In 'Beartooth,' brothers embark on an illicit journey into Yellowstone National Park
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Mar 27, 2025 Callan Wink, author of "Beartooth" and a fly fishing guide, shares the gripping story of two brothers navigating financial despair after their father's death near Yellowstone National Park. Inspired by a bar tale, their quest for survival leads them into the morally ambiguous world of illegal elk antler collection. Wink discusses the stark contrast between the park's beauty and the brothers' dire circumstances, along with the complex dynamics of family, grief, and tough ethical choices that shape their bond in a wilderness fraught with challenges.
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Novel Inspiration
- Callan Wink heard a story about men illegally collecting elk antlers in Yellowstone.
- This inspired his novel Beartooth, although he doesn't know if the story is true.
Montana's Reality
- The brothers in Beartooth are not wealthy newcomers but long-time residents struggling financially.
- Wink aims to portray a realistic Montana, different from the "playground for the rich" often depicted.
Yellowstone's Nature
- Yellowstone National Park, bordering the characters' home, is both beautiful and harsh.
- The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a key setting, is vast and remote, fostering a sense of isolation.
