The Alaskan A Novel Of The North Author:James Oliver Curwood On the farthest frontiers of Alaska, two men fought a bloody battle over lovely Mary Standish (both mysterious and desperate), who belonged to one by law, to the other by heart. The book includes fascinating details of reindeer ranching. The Alaskan is regarded as one of Curwood’s best, and was made into a Paramount movie in 1924.