In The Last Guide, Ottawa Citizen columnist and feature writer Ron Corbett explores the life of Frank Kuiack, Algonquin Park’s last remaining fishing guide. The book alternates between a biography of Kuiack and an account of his last trip – guiding Corbett on a largely unsuccessful, though deeply symbolic, exploration of the lakes Kuiack had fished for over 50 years.

The Last Guide could have been a moving, elegiac exploration of a vanished way of life, an informative account of the societal shifts that contributed to the rise and fall of the guiding life, and a vivid rendering of Kuiack himself. With a battle against alcoholism, a 45-year relationship with his second wife, and a rich supporting cast of characters too farfetched to be anything but true, Kuiack’s story had the potential for both a strong dramatic arc and an emotionally resonant aftertaste.

However, the account is too respectful, and lingers too long on Kuiack’s youthful idealism and energy while glossing over marital problems and decades of alcoholism. While this approach avoids offense, it also deadens the central character. Why, for instance, should readers care about Kuiack’s recovery when they haven’t been fully apprised of the depths of his alcoholism?

With its evocative and passionate rendering of Algonquin Park and its obvious love of fishing and the wilderness life, The Last Guide reads like an impressive and skilled magazine feature, of obvious interest to fisher folk and those with an interest in, or memories of, Algonquin Park. With its respectful distance and flattened emotional tone, however, it’s less than satisfying as a book.