Patrick F. McManus
Encyclopedia
Patrick Francis McManus (born August 25, 1933) is an American
outdoor humor writer. A humor columnist for Outdoor Life
, Field & Stream
, and other magazines, his columns have been collected in several books, beginning with A Fine and Pleasant Misery (1978) up through Kerplunk! Stories (2008).
. His father, who served in the 42nd ("Rainbow") Division under Douglas MacArthur
during World War I
, died when he was six. Although his mother later remarried, for the most part he was raised by his mother, grandmother, and older sister Patricia (referred to in his childhood stories as "the Troll"). After high school, McManus worked construction and other such jobs until he had saved enough money to attend Washington State College, now Washington State University
. He is married to Darlene "Bun" McManus and has four daughters.
adventures into the outdoors. McManus's writing is characterized by a dry wit that has drawn comparisons to Mark Twain
and Robert Benchley
.
As of 2010, his most recent work is The Huckleberry Murders, the fourth in a series of mystery novels starring the character Sheriff Bo Tully. Other departures from his column-collections include Kid Camping From Aaaaiii! To Zip (1979, an alphabetized, and partially serious, listing of useful tips and concepts for beginning campers); Whatchagot Stew (1989, both a cookbook and a less-fictionalized memoir of his childhood); and The Deer On A Bicycle (2000, a discussion of the art of humor writing.)
Some of his stories have been adapted as stage-plays; Tim Behrens adapted his work into the stage play A Fine and Pleasant Misery: The Humor of Patrick F. McManus in 1996.
In October 2011, an index of his stories and novels titled "Where's the One About the Bobcat?" was compiled by Lauren Ball, making it easy for readers to find their favorite stories.
Some of the elements show up in his longer works, and are even worked into the plots. Bo Tully, the protagonist of the Bo Tully Mysteries, shares McManus' views about firearms—in the course of his job as Sheriff and his hobbies, Tully uses guns, knows about guns, but isn't particularly excited by them or even sentimental towards them. He is, however, aware that many people are. This even serves as plot point in one of the Bo Tully mysteries, Tully is investigating an absent murder suspect and sees that the man has a gorgeously mounted collection of antique, original, or unusual firearms—with a gap in it that would correspond to the type of handgun used in a murder. Tully realized it's likely that an ardent gun collector would be reluctant to destroy or permanently discard such a gun, and operates on the hunch that the murder weapon is hidden nearby and carefully preserved to prevent possible damage.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outdoor humor writer. A humor columnist for Outdoor Life
Outdoor Life
Outdoor Life is an outdoors magazine about hunting, fishing, survival and camping. It is a sister magazine of Field & Stream. Together with Sports Afield, they are considered the Big Three of American outdoor publishing. Outdoor Life launched in Denver, Colorado in January 1898. Founder and...
, Field & Stream
Field & Stream
Field & Stream is a magazine featuring hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities in the United States. Together with Sports Afield and Outdoor Life, it is considered one of the Big Three of American outdoor publishing....
, and other magazines, his columns have been collected in several books, beginning with A Fine and Pleasant Misery (1978) up through Kerplunk! Stories (2008).
Biography
McManus was born and raised in Sandpoint, IdahoSandpoint, Idaho
Sandpoint is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Bonner County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 7,365 at the 2010 census.Sandpoint's major economic contributors include forest products and light manufacturing, tourism and recreation and government services...
. His father, who served in the 42nd ("Rainbow") Division under Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, died when he was six. Although his mother later remarried, for the most part he was raised by his mother, grandmother, and older sister Patricia (referred to in his childhood stories as "the Troll"). After high school, McManus worked construction and other such jobs until he had saved enough money to attend Washington State College, now Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. He is married to Darlene "Bun" McManus and has four daughters.
Works
McManus writes mostly about his outdoor adventures from his childhood with semi-fictional characters such as his old woodsman mentor Rancid Crabtree and his childhood friends. The stories' humor is mostly based on elaborate exaggerations of his surrealSurrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
adventures into the outdoors. McManus's writing is characterized by a dry wit that has drawn comparisons to Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
and Robert Benchley
Robert Benchley
Robert Charles Benchley was an American humorist best known for his work as a newspaper columnist and film actor...
.
As of 2010, his most recent work is The Huckleberry Murders, the fourth in a series of mystery novels starring the character Sheriff Bo Tully. Other departures from his column-collections include Kid Camping From Aaaaiii! To Zip (1979, an alphabetized, and partially serious, listing of useful tips and concepts for beginning campers); Whatchagot Stew (1989, both a cookbook and a less-fictionalized memoir of his childhood); and The Deer On A Bicycle (2000, a discussion of the art of humor writing.)
Some of his stories have been adapted as stage-plays; Tim Behrens adapted his work into the stage play A Fine and Pleasant Misery: The Humor of Patrick F. McManus in 1996.
In October 2011, an index of his stories and novels titled "Where's the One About the Bobcat?" was compiled by Lauren Ball, making it easy for readers to find their favorite stories.
Recurring elements
McManus' shorter works include a recurring cast of fictitious characters and running jokes, both from the stories set in his childhood and as an adult. The foremost among the childhood stories is his "mentor" Rancid Crabtree, a colorful woodsman who lives near Pat's childhood home, who hasn't bathed because of his fear of getting wet. Other recurring characters are his childhood best friend, 'Crazy Eddie' Muldoon, and his adulthood friends, the goofy and dim-witted Retch Sweeney and his straitlaced neighbor, Alphonse 'Al' Finley. Throughout the majority of the stories is a recurring theme of McManus's lifelong love of hunting and fishing—which is mostly an excuse to just enjoy the outdoors, often in good company. Most of his friends likewise enjoy hunting and fishing, even if they aren't particularly good at it. McManus, in his stories, has a certain amount of disgruntlement for people who take great pleasure in the minutiae of various sports (such as encyclopediac knowledge of firearms calibers and ballistics). He refers to firearms enthusiastics as 'gun nuts' and treats their excited sharing of the fine points of ballistic arcs and grain sizes as something to be endured to get on a good hunting trip.Some of the elements show up in his longer works, and are even worked into the plots. Bo Tully, the protagonist of the Bo Tully Mysteries, shares McManus' views about firearms—in the course of his job as Sheriff and his hobbies, Tully uses guns, knows about guns, but isn't particularly excited by them or even sentimental towards them. He is, however, aware that many people are. This even serves as plot point in one of the Bo Tully mysteries, Tully is investigating an absent murder suspect and sees that the man has a gorgeously mounted collection of antique, original, or unusual firearms—with a gap in it that would correspond to the type of handgun used in a murder. Tully realized it's likely that an ardent gun collector would be reluctant to destroy or permanently discard such a gun, and operates on the hunch that the murder weapon is hidden nearby and carefully preserved to prevent possible damage.