Forrest Fenn
Forrest Fenn (Forrest Burke Fenn) was born on August 22nd, 1930. Forrest passed away September 7th, 2020 at 90 years old. Forrest Fenn was born in Temple, TX, USA.
Forrest Fenn was known for many things, as he was a storyteller, pilot, art dealer, adventurer, and the man behind one of the most famous treasure hunts in American history.
Forrest was brought up in Texas, and his drive for adventure and curiosity were evident from a very early age. He developed a love for exploration, fishing, and rivers due to spending many of his summers at Yellowstone. Daring and mischief shaped his young adulthood from wild adventures in the mountains to playful stunts with Skippy, his brother.
Given his restless spirit, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he flew hundreds of missions in Vietnam. Two times he was shot down, and once he had a near-death crash and had to be rescued from the jungle. His years in the Vietnam War left him deeply scared and provided a more acute sense of his mortality.
After he quit the military, he began building a new career in art. He traded for artifacts, created bronze sculptures, and ultimately took over and ran the Santa Fe-based Fenn Galleries, where he served celebrities and collectors.
In 1988, he was diagnosed with cancer, and this made him start reflecting on memory and legacy. He decided to write a memoir that had a poem with nine cryptic clues pointing to a treasure of artifacts, jewels, and gold he had buried in the Rocky Mountains.
In 1980, Forrest Fenn published
The African Animals of R. Leigh, a sketchbook of African Wildlife by William Robinson Leigh.
It shows African animals showing their presence in nature, their shapes, and textures. The animals are drawn in different poses, sometimes hunting, other times sleeping, or just standing still. Through the shadows and light, the movement and the big shapes show African wildlife in color.
It is a visual tribute to African nature as seen through the eyes of Leigh, the artist, and brought to life by Forrest Fenn.
In his 2010 published work,
The Thrill of the Chase, Forrest Fenn published a memoir that is a combination of personal stories, mystery, and adventure.
Fenn chronicles his Yellowstone summers, his childhood adventures and his travels, his time collecting treasures and art, romances, and flying as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War.
He tells of how he amassed a treasure chest of personal keepsakes, jewels, and gold, which he hid in the rocky mountains with the only clues to find it in a poem he wrote in an anthology.
Forrest also shares about his deep love for discovery and nature, and the close calls and danger he often found himself in.
Related Authors
Fans of Forrest Fenn also enjoy these authors:
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Harlan Coben, author of the Myron Bolitar Series.
- Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
- Daniel Silva, author of the Gabriel Allon Series.
- David Baldacci, author of the Amos Decker Series.
Forrest Fenn: F.A.Q
When was Forrest Fenn Born?
Forrest Fenn was born on August 22nd, 1930.
When did Forrest Fenn die?
Forrest Fenn died on September 7th, 2020 at 90 years old.
Where was Forrest Fenn Born?
Forrest Fenn was born in Temple, TX, USA.
What was the first book Forrest Fenn wrote?
The first book written by Forrest Fenn was The African Animals of William R. Leigh, published in 1980.
What was the most recent book Forrest Fenn wrote?
His most recently released work was Leon Gaspard: The Call of Distant Places on January 15th, 2019.
What is the most popular book by Forrest Fenn?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Forrest Fenn book is
The Thrill of the Chase: A Memoir. Here are his most popular books and their average ratings:
- The Thrill of the Chase: A Memoir (6.00)
- Too Far To Walk (8.00)
How many books has Forrest Fenn written?
Forrest Fenn has written 11 books. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.