The Best of Philip Holden

Philip Holden was one of NZ’s best-loved authors. His first book, PACK AND RIFLE, was published in 1971 and detailed his adventures as a deer culler for the New Zealand Forest Service. Encouraged by his initial success he produced another two popular works, HUNTER BY PROFESSION (1973) and BACKBLOCKS (1974). Over the next three decades, Holden gained a dedicated following and reputation among the rural and outdoor/hunting communities of New Zealand and Australia, not just as a narrator of hunting adventures but also as a talented photographer, historian and fictional writer. By the end of his life in 2005, he had firmly established himself as one of New Zealand’s most prolific authors, with over 50 published volumes of work to his credit. This book is a beautiful collection of Philip’s best-loved stories and photographs designed to continue his legacy and ready to be appreciated by a whole new generation of hunting and outdoor enthusiasts.