Chasing the Panda: How an unlikely pair of adventurers won the race to capture the mythical "white bear" - Paperback

by Michael Kiefer (Author)

In 1936, Quentin Young, a 22-year-old Chinese American, led American socialite Ruth Harkness on a 1,500-mile expedition into the remote mountains of Sichuan. Braving warlords and primitive tribes, the duo captured a giant panda and brought it back alive, the first time a live panda had been seen by the Western world. Hunters and scientists assumed the pair had stolen the animal. When it became clear the find was genuine, Ruth Harkness became a celebrity. But Quentin Young, together with his brother and fellow guide, Jack, was swept into the chaos of World War II and became a spy. A few years ago, Michael Kiefer discovered Quentin, now elderly and living in the United States. The resulting book sets the record straight. "The public first became enchanted with pandas in 1936 when Ruth Harkness brought an infant to the United States. In this fascinating and compelling account, Michael Kiefer relates in unique detail the intriguing background to this even which two Chinese-American naturalists made possible. This book is a valuable historical contribution as well as a rousing tale of adventure." --George B. Schaller, author of The Last Panda "...a fascinating account of brotherly antagonism and the complexities of Chinese-American life in the twentieth century." --Times Literary Supplement, London "Readers interested in either this or the more traditional kind of endangered species will enjoy this well-researched, nuanced tale." --Publishers Weekly "...an exciting account of an unlikely expedition. --Booklist "... a truly rollicking tale of adventure, romance, jealousy and mystery that recounts the days of Great White Hunters in the first half of the 20th century." --United Press International

Author Biography

Michael Kiefer covers courts, crime and politics for The Arizona Republic. A former associate editor at Outside magazine, he has reported extensively from Europe, North and South America, and his profiles and travel accounts have appeared in a wide range of newspapers and magazines, from USA Today to The New York Times and from Self magazine to Esquire and Playboy. He is the author of the novels Speaking English, The Lion Hunter and Another Monk's Tale.