Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat Young adult fiction, Non-fiction | |
---|---|
Subject | Environmentalism, Northern Canada |
Notable works | Never Cry Wolf, People of the Deer, Lost in the Barrens, The Curse of the Viking Grave, The Grey Seas Under, Owls in the Family |
Spouse | Frances (Thornhill) Mowat, Claire (Wheeler) Mowat[1] |
Children | Robert Mowat, David Mowat |
Relatives | John Mowat, John Bower Mowat, John McDonald Mowat, Angus McGill Mowat, Sir Oliver Mowat |
Website | |
farleymowat |
Farley McGill Mowat,
Mowat's advocacy for environmental causes earned him praise, but his admission, after some of his books' claims had been debunked, that he "never let the facts get in the way of the truth" [4] earned harsh criticism: "few readers remain neutral".[2] Descriptions of Mowat refer to his "commitment to ideals" and "poetic descriptions and vivid images" as well as his strong antipathies, which provoke "ridicule, lampoons and, at times, evangelical condemnation".[2]
Early life and education
Mowat was born May 12, 1921, in Belleville, Ontario,[5] and grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario.[6] His great-great-uncle was Ontario premier Sir Oliver Mowat,[5] and his father, Angus Mowat, was a librarian, who fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. His mother was Helen Lilian Thomson, daughter of Henry Andrew Hoffman Thomson and Georgina Phillips Farley Thomson of Trenton, Ontario. Mowat started writing, in his words "mostly verse", when his family lived in Windsor from 1930 to 1933.[2]
In the 1930s, the Mowat family moved to
War service
During
Mowat served throughout the campaign as a platoon commander and moved to Italy
Mowat moved with the division to northwest Europe in early 1945. There, he worked as an intelligence agent in the Netherlands and went through enemy lines to start unofficial negotiations about food drops with General Blaskowitz. The food drops, under the codename Operation Manna, saved thousands of Dutch lives.[10]
Mowat also formed the 1st Canadian Army Museum Collection Team,
Mowat was discharged in 1945, at the conclusion of World War II, as a captain and was considered for promotion to major. However, he declined the offer as it would have required his volunteering to stay in the military until "no longer needed", which Mowat assumed meant duty with the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) (but might also have meant the conclusion of the war with Japan).[15] He was entitled to the following medals as a result of his service: the 1939–1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939–1945.
Post-war
In 1947, Mowat was hired as field technician for American
In the late 1940s, Mowat was hired by Frank Banfield—then Chief Mammalogist of the newly formed Canadian Wildlife Service—as field assistant in Banfield's ambitious multi-year investigation of the barren-ground caribou,[21] [22][23] which resulted in Banfield's influential 1951 publication entitled "The Barren-ground Caribou."[24] Mowat, who was part of a four-researcher team, was fired by the chief of Canadian Wildlife Service because of complaints from the local population and lack of formal approval for some activities.[1]
Literary career
After serving in World War II, Mowat attended the
Mowat became a McClelland and Stewart author when they published his book entitled The Regiment in 1955.[26] Jack McClelland, known for his promotion of Canadian authors, became his lifelong friend as well as his publisher. Mowat's next book, (a children's book) Lost in the Barrens (1956), won a Governor General's Award.[2][27]
In 1963, Mowat wrote a possibly fictionalised account of his experiences in the Canadian Arctic with Arctic wolves entitled Never Cry Wolf (1963), which is thought to have been instrumental in changing popular attitudes towards the animals.[4]
In 1985, Mowat started a book tour of the United States to promote Sea of Slaughter. He was denied entry by customs agents at
Mowat became very interested in
Many of Mowat's works are autobiographical, such as Owls in the Family (1962, about his childhood), The Boat Who Wouldn't Float (1969, one of three books about his time living in Newfoundland), and And No Birds Sang (1979, about his experience fighting in Italy in World War II).[2]
In 1965, Westviking was published, followed 30 years later by The Farfarers, which suggests a people he called the Albans preceded the Norse to the High Arctic and the Labrador and Newfoundland coasts.
Criticism
In a 1964 book review published in
Duncan Pryde, a Hudson's Bay Company trader who pioneered the linguistic study of Inuit languages, attacked Mowat's claim to have picked up the language quickly enough in two months to discuss detailed concepts such as shamanism, pointing out that the language is complex and required a year or more for Europeans to master the basics. Pryde said that when Mowat visited his post at Baker Lake in 1958, 10 years after Mowat's earlier trip, he could barely speak a single word in the Inuit language.[35]
Canadian Geographic published excerpts from The Farfarers with the comment that it was "a highly speculative blend of history and archeology. In it, Mowat again draws upon Norse sagas, the chronicles of Irish monks, and accounts of Roman travellers, as well as the works of modern historians and archeologists. It is both detailed and, as with all early history, sketchy. The written record for much of the period covered is scant and the archeological record spotty. Still, such speculative writing can suggest avenues of exploration and study for future researchers. No professional archeologists are known to share Mowat's theories but that does not disturb him. A literary gadfly for much of his long career, Mowat is happy to stir up debate and challenge academics to match the visions that he champions and defends with such vigour and relish."[36]
Awards and honours
- 1950s: Mowat won two Canadian "year's best" book awards for Governor General's Award for Juvenile Fiction for 1956[37] and the 1958 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award.[38] In 1952, Mowat won the University of Western Ontario's President's Medal for best short story for "Eskimo Spring". In 1953, People of the Deer was awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award by the Anisfield–Wolf Foundation. In 1956, Mowat won the Governor General's Award. And in 1957, the Book of the Year Award, Canadian Association of Children's Librarians, for Lost in the Barrens.[39]Also, in 1958, Mowat won the Canadian Women's Clubs Award for children's book The Dog Who Wouldn't Be and the Hans Christian Andersen International Award.
- 1960s: In 1962, he won the Boys' Clubs of America Junior Book Award for Owls in the Family. In 1963, he won the National Association of Independent Schools Award. In 1965, he made the Hans Christian Andersen Honours List, for juvenile books.[39]
- 1970s: In 1970, The Boat Who Wouldn't Float won the
- 1980s: He was given the Knight of Mark Twain distinction in 1980.Gemini Awardfor best documentary script, for The New North.
- 1990s: In 1991, the Council of Canadians presented him with the Back the Nation Award.[39]
- 2000s: In 2002, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship RV Farley Mowat (formerly M/Y Sea Shepherd III / M/Y Ocean Warrior) was named in his honour. Mowat frequently visited it to assist its mission and provided financial support to the group. In 2005, Mowat received the first and only Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Outdoor Book Award.[40] On June 8, 2010, it was announced that Mowat would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[27][41]
- 2010s: In 2014, only weeks after his death, a life-sized sculpture of Farley Mowat, commissioned by Toronto businessman Ron Rhodes and executed by the Canadian artist George Bartholomew Boileau, was unveiled at the University of Saskatchewan, located in Saskatoon, where Farley spent many of his formative years. His wife Claire was in attendance. Mowat had seen the finished clay, in the artist's studio, several months previously.
Mowat was made an
As an Order of Canada recipient, he automatically qualified for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992), the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
Farley is also the namesake of the lovable sheepdog in the comic strip by Lynn Johnston, For Better or For Worse. Johnston and Mowat were long-time friends.[43]
Honorary doctorates
- 1970, D.Litt. – Doctor of Letters, Laurentian University
- 1973, LL.D. – Doctor of Laws, University of Lethbridge
- 1973, LL.D. – Doctor of Laws, University of Toronto
- 1979, LL.D. – Doctor of Laws, University of PEI
- 1982, D.Litt. – Doctor of Letters, University of Victoria
- 1985, D.Litt. – Doctor of Letters, Lakehead University
- 1994, D.Litt. – Doctor of Letters, McMaster University
- 1995, LL.D. – Doctor of Laws, Queen's University
- 1996, D.Litt. – Doctor of Letters, Cape Breton University
Affiliations
Mowat was a strong supporter of the
Farley Mowat Library
In 2012, independent Canadian publisher Douglas & McIntyre announced they had created the Farley Mowat Library series and would be re-releasing many of his most popular titles, with new designs and introductions, in print and e-book format.[46]
Mowat's archives are held at the William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario.
Later life
Mowat and his second wife Claire spent their later years together in Port Hope, Ontario, and their summers on a farm on Cape Breton Island.[47] They attended a local Anglican church in Port Hope about monthly, Claire emphasizing that Mowat was more spiritual than religious, and Mowat stating that he probably believed in God the same way his dog did, and that such ceremonies were important in tying people to each other and the world.[48]
Mowat is considered a saint by the God's Gardeners, a fictional religious sect that is the focus of Margaret Atwood's 2009 novel The Year of the Flood.[49][50]
Mowat died on May 6, 2014, at age 92.[6][51] He maintained his interest in Canada's wilderness areas throughout his life and could be heard a few days before his death on the CBC Radio One program The Current speaking against the provision of Wi-Fi service in national parks.[52] He is buried at the historic St. Mark's Anglican Church cemetery in Port Hope.[53][54]
Works
- ISBN 0-89190-818-8
- ISBN 0-7710-6575-2
- ISBN 0-553-27525-9
- ISBN 0-553-27928-9
- ISBN 0-771-06690-2
- ISBN 1-58574-240-6
- ISBN 1-471-32945-3
- ISBN 0-7710-6686-4
- ISBN 0-440-41361-3
- ISBN 0-738-71577-8
- LCCN 63-13462
- LCCN 63-19169
- ISBN 1-55890-281-3
- LCCN 65-20746
- ISBN 0-553-27525-9
- ISBN 978-0316586474
- ISBN 978-0879053482
- LCCN 69-12137
- ISBN 0-553-27788-X
- ISBN 978-0771065767
- ISBN 978-1-77100-028-4
- ISBN 0-7710-6627-9
- LCCN 73-14315
- ISBN 978-1771000857
- ISBN 1-59241-410-9
- ISBN 0-7710-6596-5
- ISBN 978-1-77100-030-7
- ISBN 0-316-58689-7
- ISBN 0-87113-013-0
- ISBN 0-87113-050-5
- ISBN 0-7710-6677-5
- ISBN 0-7710-6689-9
- ISBN 0-7710-6684-8
- ISBN 1-55013-430-2
- ISBN 0-395-73528-9
- Aftermath (1995) ISBN 1-57098-103-5
- ISBN 1-883642-56-6
- ISBN 1-58642-024-0
- ISBN 1-58642-061-5
- ISBN 0-7867-1430-1
- ISBN 0-7710-6538-8
- Otherwise (2008) ISBN 0-7710-6489-6
The Top of the World Trilogy
- ISBN 0-7710-6686-4
- ISBN 978-0879053482
- ISBN 0-7710-6627-9
References
- ^ a b c d e Cook, Francis R., "Obituary – Farley Mowat 1921–2014", Canadian Field-Naturalist, 128, retrieved November 1, 2014
- ^ a b c d e f Gerald J. Rubio. "Farley Mowat". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ "Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People". Awards. Writers Trust of Canada (writerstrust.com). Retrieved 2015-08-20. With linked guidelines and list of winners.
- ^ a b Burgess, Steve (May 11, 1999). "Northern exposure". Salon.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2006. Retrieved March 24, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Sandra Martin (May 7, 2014). "Acclaimed Canadian author Farley Mowat dead at 92". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Rinehart, Dianne (May 7, 2014). "Farley Mowat, acclaimed Canadian author, dead at 92". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ^ "The Canada Gazette". The Canada Gazette. Vol. 74, no. 21. November 23, 1940. p. 1772.
- ^ And No Birds Sang, p. 7
- ^ And No Birds Sang, p. 259
- ^ CBC Radio Canada International
- ^ "Harold A. Skaarup: Canadian War Trophies". Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "My Fathers Son CL". Publishers Weekly. January 4, 1993. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Ottawa Citizen: Andrew King, November 7, 2014
- ^ Legion Magazine, September 2014
- ^ My Father's Son, p. 359
- ^ Harper 1955.
- ^ Harper, Francis (October 21, 1955), Hall, E. Raymond (ed.), Caribou of Keewatin, Kansas: Museum of Natural Science via Gutenberg Press, p. 164
- ^ Kuehl, Gerald (2002), "Luke Anowtalik", Portraits of the North, archived from the original on September 24, 2015, retrieved November 2, 2014
- ^ Luke Anowtalik, Inuit, Arviat, Nunavut Territory, Canada (1932–2006), Vancouver, BC, retrieved November 2, 2014
- ^ Hessel, Ingo (Winter 1990), "Arviat Stone Sculpture: Born of the Struggle with an Uncompromising Medium", Inuit Art Quarterly: 4–15
- ISBN 9780774842525.
- ^ Burnett, J. Alexander (January–March 1999), "A Passion for Wildlife: A History of the Canadian Wildlife Service, 1947–1997", The Canadian Field-Naturalist, 113 (1), Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada: 183
- ^ Sandlos, John (November 1, 2011), Hunters at the Margin: Native People and Wildlife Conservation in the Northwest Territories, Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, p. 360
- ^ Banfield, Frank (1951a), The barren-ground caribou, Ottawa, Ontario: Canada Department of Resources and Development, pp. 56 + vi
- ^ Kennedy, John R. (May 7, 2014). "Canadian author Farley Mowat dies at 92". Global News. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ Thomson, Donna, The Boat Who Wouldn't Float – The Happy Adventure of Farley Mowat and Jack McClelland, McMaster University
- ^ a b c "Remembering Farley Mowat". CBC Books. May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Martin, Sandra (May 7, 2014). "Scarred by war, acclaimed author Farley Mowat spent his life trying to save animals, nature and First Nations". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ a b Banfield, A.W.F. (1964). "Book Review: 'Never Cry Wolf' by Farley Mowat. 1963". Canadian Field-Naturalist. Vol. 78. pp. 52–54. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Uncle Albert (1964). "Letter to the editor". Canadian Field-Naturalist. Vol. 78. p. 205. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ISBN 0-609-60529-1.
- ISBN 978-0-7710-6491-3.
- ^ Eastern Passage, pp. 66–67
- ^ Querengesser, T. (September 2009). Farley Mowat: Liar or Saint? Archived February 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Up Here. Retrieved on: 2012-12-27.
- ^ Pryde, Duncan (1975). Nunaga: Ten Years of Eskimo Life. New York: Walker and Co. p. 33.
- ^ Farley's Version, Canadian Geographic, September 1998
- ^ "Governor General's Literary Awards" [table of winners, 1936–1999]. online guide to writing in canada (track0.com/ogwc). Retrieved 2015-08-20.
- ^ (list of winners) Archived July 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Book of the Year for Children Award. Canadian Library Association (cla.ca). Retrieved 2015-07-21. With linked press releases 2003 to present.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Farley Mowat: nature lover". Famous Canadians. Argot Language Centre (r-go.ca). Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ NOBA 2005 winners
- ^ "2010 Inductees for The Canada Honours Announced". Canada's Walk of Fame. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ^ "Canadian author Farley Mowat dies at 92". 660 News. May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ "How Farley Got His Name". Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ^ "The 2013–2014 NANPS Board of Directors". North American Native Plant Society. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ISBN 9781412817349.
- ^ McIntyre, Scott. "The World of Farley Mowat" (PDF). Spring 2012. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ^ Longwell, Karen (May 6, 2014). "Port Hope residents recall funny, kind-hearted Farley Mowat". Northumberland News. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Todd, Douglas. "Farley Mowat: "I believe in God the way my dog does" | Vancouver Sun". Blogs.vancouversun.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
- ^ "Saints". The Year of The Flood. Retrieved September 7, 2022.[permanent dead link]
- OCLC 290470097, retrieved September 7, 2022
- ^ Parini, Jay (May 8, 2014). "Farley Mowat obituary". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ^ Reinhart, Dianne (May 8, 2014). "Farley Mowat, Acclaimed Canadian author, dead at 92". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Farley Mowat's love of nature recalled at private funeral service". CTV News. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022.
- ^ "HistoricPlaces.ca". HistoricPlaces.ca. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
- ^ 1950 Rivière-du-Loup B-50 nuclear weapon loss incident
External links
Biography
- James King, Farley: The Life of Farley Mowat. Accessed 29 November 2017.
Webpages
- Official website
- Douglas & McIntyre catalog Archived November 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- Penguin-Random House catalog
Film and television
- In Search of Farley Mowat (1981) – a National Film Board of Canada (|NFB) film
- Ten Million Books: An Introduction to Farley Mowat (1981) – an NFB film
- Never Cry Wolf (film) (1983) starring Charles Martin Smith – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086005/
- Lost in the Barrens (miniseries) (1990) starring Adam Beach
- The Curse of the Viking Grave (miniseries) (1992)
- The Snow Walker (2003) starring Barry Pepper – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337721/
- Finding Farley (2009) – an NFB film https://www.nfb.ca/film/finding_farley/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1519307/
- Mowat in The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Order of Canada Citation
- Mowat archives at McMaster University
- Farley Mowat at IMDb
- Northern Exposure (Salon.com)
- Another page with Mowat's photo
- Farley Mowat, Prophet - Cover story, Atlantic Insight Magazine - October 1979
- Farley Mowat at Library of Congress, with 82 library catalogue records