Riverman by Ben McGrath is a captivating exploration of the life and mysterious disappearance of Dick Conant, an enigmatic figure who spent decades paddling America’s rivers in a canoe, weaving in and out of the lives of those he met along the way. McGrath, a writer for The New Yorker, brings his journalistic expertise and narrative flair to this intriguing story, offering readers a deep dive into the world of a man who chose a life of adventure and solitude on the water over the conventional path.
Dick Conant was not a famous adventurer or an environmental crusader; he was an ordinary man with an extraordinary passion for the rivers that crisscross America. For years, he lived on the fringes of society, traveling alone in his canoe, forging connections with the people he met along the way, and chronicling his experiences in a series of journals. McGrath’s interest in Conant was piqued when he came across one of these journals, and what began as a curiosity soon turned into an obsession with uncovering the man behind the legend.
Riverman is structured around McGrath’s quest to understand Conant’s life and the reasons behind his disappearance. The book is part biography, part mystery, and part meditation on the allure of the open water. McGrath meticulously traces Conant’s journeys, piecing together the fragments of his life through interviews with those who knew him, entries from his journals, and the author’s own reflections on the meaning of Conant’s odyssey.
One of the most compelling aspects of Riverman is McGrath’s portrayal of Conant as a modern-day river wanderer, a man who embodied the spirit of exploration and freedom that is deeply rooted in American culture. Conant’s travels took him through some of the country’s most iconic waterways, from the Hudson River to the Mississippi, and his encounters with the people who lived along these rivers provide a rich tapestry of stories that McGrath skillfully weaves into the narrative.
Through Conant’s story, McGrath explores larger themes of solitude, the search for meaning, and the draw of the natural world. Conant’s life on the rivers was one of simplicity and independence, but it was also marked by the loneliness and hardships that come with choosing such an unconventional path. McGrath doesn’t shy away from these complexities, offering a nuanced portrait of a man who was both deeply connected to the landscapes he traveled and profoundly isolated by his choices.
The mystery of Conant’s disappearance adds an element of intrigue to the book. In 2014, Conant set out on what would be his final journey, paddling down the East Coast toward Florida. He was last seen in North Carolina, and despite extensive searches, no definitive trace of him has been found since. McGrath delves into the possible explanations for Conant’s disappearance, from accidental death to the possibility that he simply chose to vanish. This unresolved mystery gives Riverman an additional layer of depth, prompting readers to reflect on the nature of disappearance and the idea of leaving behind the known world.
McGrath’s writing is both empathetic and insightful, capturing the essence of Conant’s character and the impact he had on those who crossed his path. The author’s own reflections on the meaning of Conant’s journey and his encounters with the people who remember him add a personal dimension to the narrative, making Riverman not just a biography, but a meditation on the ways in which our lives intersect with those of others, often in unexpected and fleeting ways.
Riverman by Ben McGrath is a poignant and compelling exploration of a life lived on the margins, a testament to the enduring allure of America’s rivers, and a reflection on the mysteries that lie within us all. Through the story of Dick Conant, McGrath invites readers to consider the nature of adventure, the meaning of solitude, and the ways in which the landscapes we traverse shape our lives and identities.
As McGrath writes, The river has its own way of keeping secrets, and some stories, like Conant’s, are destined to remain part of its enduring mystery. Riverman is a must-read for anyone who is drawn to tales of adventure, the pull of the wild, and the enigmatic lives of those who choose to wander. It’s a book that will stay with you long after the final page, much like the rivers that continue to flow long after we’ve moved on.
