The modern-day raconteur who deftly samples the movement, colour, and sensuality of people, places and times with a geographical range of language that is voluptuous, erotic, and even fanciful. For some six decades Barry Callaghan has been a singular presence in Canada. His distinctive literary style, tone and temperament reveal him to be an inquisitive observer, thoughtful commentator, and assiduous craftsman celebrated for his sharp intellect and startling imagination. Always attuned to the history of the place and in covert search of adventure, he is also a public scholar, unflinching before the harsh complexities of our time. Raise You on the River is the fourth volume of essays from Canada's Man of Letters, and takes the series to new heights - following the critically acclaimed Raise You Twenty (2011), Raise You Ten (2006) and Raise You Five (2005).