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Dust To Dust
Is it the dust of death, blowing across a Mediterranean island, and etched by the footprints of a small boy who seems to be a disturbing emblem of his parents' unhappy marriage? Or the fine, but offending dirt that is dealt with so tidily by a diligent hausfrau - almost as tidily as her fellow neighbors rationalize a brutal crime? In Dust to Dust, Timothy Findley is a master of mortality and the powerful, yet often imperceptible bond it forges with memory and reality. In this brilliant new collection of short stories - his first since the highly acclaimed Stones - Timothy Findley weaves his storytelling spell around a thematically linked collection of stories that move. literally, from dust to dust. Readers will remember Vanessa Van Home, the elderly detective from The Telling of Lies , now involved in a murder mystery where a corpse confounds the line between the magical and the mundane. And the unforgettable Rosedale couple from Findleys "Minna and Bragg" stories, who reappear in two more haunting tales. In the stories that make up "All Must Come to Dust," we are taken into the ancient cultures of Europe, and there confronted by our preconceived notions of what constitutes history and memory. Each work in Dust to Dust is a beautifully rendered showcase for Timothy Findley's immense talent in evoking a time, a place and a mood. With their European settings, these stories render a territory formerly unexplored by Findley in his Short Fiction repertoire.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 1998
4 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Findley
57 books355 followersTimothy Irving Frederick Findley was a Canadian novelist and playwright. He was also informally known by the nickname Tiff or Tiffy, an acronym of his initials.
One of three sons, Findley was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Allan Gilmour Findley, a stockbroker, and his wife, the former Margaret Maude Bull. His paternal grandfather was president of Massey-Harris, the farm-machinery company. He was raised in the upper class Rosedale district of the city, attending boarding school at St. Andrew's College (although leaving during grade 10 for health reasons). He pursued a career in the arts, studying dance and acting, and had significant success as an actor before turning to writing. He was part of the original Stratford Festival company in the 1950s, acting alongside Alec Guinness, and appeared in the first production of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker at the Edinburgh Festival. He also played Peter Pupkin in Sunshine Sketches, the CBC Television adaptation of Stephen Leacock's Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town.
Though Findley had declared his homosexuality as a teenager, he married actress/photographer Janet Reid in 1959, but the union lasted only three months and was dissolved by divorce or annulment two years later. Eventually he became the domestic partner of writer Bill Whitehead, whom he met in 1962. Findley and Whitehead also collaborated on several documentary projects in the 1970s, including the television miniseries The National Dream and Dieppe 1942.
Through Wilder, Findley became a close friend of actress Ruth Gordon, whose work as a screenwriter and playwright inspired Findley to consider writing as well. After Findley published his first short story in the Tamarack Review, Gordon encouraged him to pursue writing more actively, and he eventually left acting in the 1960s.
Findley's first two novels, The Last of the Crazy People (1967) and The Butterfly Plague (1969), were originally published in Britain and the United States after having been rejected by Canadian publishers. Findley's third novel, The Wars, was published to great acclaim in 1977 and went on to win the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction. It was adapted for film in 1981.
Timothy Findley received a Governor General's Award, the Canadian Authors Association Award, an ACTRA Award, the Order of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Award, and in 1985 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was a founding member and chair of the Writers' Union of Canada, and a president of the Canadian chapter of PEN International.
His writing was typical of the Southern Ontario Gothic style — Findley, in fact, first invented its name — and was heavily influenced by Jungian psychology. Mental illness, gender and sexuality were frequent recurring themes in his work. His characters often carried dark personal secrets, and were often conflicted — sometimes to the point of psychosis — by these burdens.
He publicly mentioned his homosexuality, passingly and perhaps for the first time, on a broadcast of the programme The Shulman File in the 1970s, taking flabbergasted host Morton Shulman completely by surprise.
Findley and Whitehead resided at Stone Orchard, a farm near Cannington, Ontario, and in the south of France. In 1996, Findley was honoured by the French government, who declared him a Chevalier de l'Ordre des arts et des lettres.
Findley was also the author of several dramas for television and stage. Elizabeth Rex, his most successful play, premiered at the Stratford Festival of Canada to rave reviews and won a Governor General's award. His 1993 play The Stillborn Lover was adapted by Shaftesbury Films into the television film External Affairs, which aired on CBC Television in 1999. Shadows, first performed in 2001, was his last completed work. Findley was also an active mentor to a number of young Canadian writers, including Marnie Woodrow and Elizabeth Ruth.
One of three sons, Findley was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Allan Gilmour Findley, a stockbroker, and his wife, the former Margaret Maude Bull. His paternal grandfather was president of Massey-Harris, the farm-machinery company. He was raised in the upper class Rosedale district of the city, attending boarding school at St. Andrew's College (although leaving during grade 10 for health reasons). He pursued a career in the arts, studying dance and acting, and had significant success as an actor before turning to writing. He was part of the original Stratford Festival company in the 1950s, acting alongside Alec Guinness, and appeared in the first production of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker at the Edinburgh Festival. He also played Peter Pupkin in Sunshine Sketches, the CBC Television adaptation of Stephen Leacock's Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town.
Though Findley had declared his homosexuality as a teenager, he married actress/photographer Janet Reid in 1959, but the union lasted only three months and was dissolved by divorce or annulment two years later. Eventually he became the domestic partner of writer Bill Whitehead, whom he met in 1962. Findley and Whitehead also collaborated on several documentary projects in the 1970s, including the television miniseries The National Dream and Dieppe 1942.
Through Wilder, Findley became a close friend of actress Ruth Gordon, whose work as a screenwriter and playwright inspired Findley to consider writing as well. After Findley published his first short story in the Tamarack Review, Gordon encouraged him to pursue writing more actively, and he eventually left acting in the 1960s.
Findley's first two novels, The Last of the Crazy People (1967) and The Butterfly Plague (1969), were originally published in Britain and the United States after having been rejected by Canadian publishers. Findley's third novel, The Wars, was published to great acclaim in 1977 and went on to win the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction. It was adapted for film in 1981.
Timothy Findley received a Governor General's Award, the Canadian Authors Association Award, an ACTRA Award, the Order of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Award, and in 1985 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was a founding member and chair of the Writers' Union of Canada, and a president of the Canadian chapter of PEN International.
His writing was typical of the Southern Ontario Gothic style — Findley, in fact, first invented its name — and was heavily influenced by Jungian psychology. Mental illness, gender and sexuality were frequent recurring themes in his work. His characters often carried dark personal secrets, and were often conflicted — sometimes to the point of psychosis — by these burdens.
He publicly mentioned his homosexuality, passingly and perhaps for the first time, on a broadcast of the programme The Shulman File in the 1970s, taking flabbergasted host Morton Shulman completely by surprise.
Findley and Whitehead resided at Stone Orchard, a farm near Cannington, Ontario, and in the south of France. In 1996, Findley was honoured by the French government, who declared him a Chevalier de l'Ordre des arts et des lettres.
Findley was also the author of several dramas for television and stage. Elizabeth Rex, his most successful play, premiered at the Stratford Festival of Canada to rave reviews and won a Governor General's award. His 1993 play The Stillborn Lover was adapted by Shaftesbury Films into the television film External Affairs, which aired on CBC Television in 1999. Shadows, first performed in 2001, was his last completed work. Findley was also an active mentor to a number of young Canadian writers, including Marnie Woodrow and Elizabeth Ruth.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 19, 2011
A bit more consistent a collection than "Stones" -- darker, moodier...a more sensual literary experience all around.
August 25, 2016
The writing in these stories is as strong as you'd expect from Findley. He's a master at construction, for sure. The stories were engaging and I enjoyed the book, despite the thread of misery that runs through them all.
Read
June 21, 2020I've read several of Findley's novels, but this is my first foray into short fiction, and well worth the journey. Given the title, it's not surprise that these stories are linked by deaths: murder, massacre, drowning, cancers, AIDS, genocide. The characters are vibrant (even though at least one had been killed off in an earlier work!) and beautifully portrayed. There is the fulfillment of a revenge fantasy (a nasty critic gets his comeuppance) but I actually enjoyed that! And, as always with Findley, there was much to admire in the writing.
For example:
"Kaet acknowledge that Bragg was talented. Very, she said. Which was true. But the talented have to learn to take care of themselves. She smiled pointedly at Minna. Themselves, not others. Others are a drag on talent. And significant others weigh a ton." p 95.
For example:
"Kaet acknowledge that Bragg was talented. Very, she said. Which was true. But the talented have to learn to take care of themselves. She smiled pointedly at Minna. Themselves, not others. Others are a drag on talent. And significant others weigh a ton." p 95.
February 9, 2025
I've always admired how beautifully Timothy Findley writes, even if I haven't loved all of his works. But the prose in Dust to Dust is so bare and forgettable. The dialogue is stiff, the characters aren't believable, the "unexpected" gruesome plot twists in every story become predictable. There was some potential here, but overall this is an unremarkable collection of short stories. "Infidelity" was the only story I genuinely liked. "Americana" and "Hilton Agonistes" were conceptually interesting but fell flat. It's a shame because Findley has written some great short pieces before, and his short novel The Wars is among my all-time favourite books. He is capable of being economical and effective with his writing, but it wasn't on display here.
September 25, 2017
When reading these unusual short stories one knows that Timothy Findlay has been there; he knows exactly what he's talking about. A master of creating a story between the lines by what he leaves out. his pointed dialogue doesn't describe; it guides the reader to fill in the blanks. I was particularly engrossed by the stories of homosexuality and how explicit they were. the language surprised me but then I've never been 'in situ' with a group of gay men. Like I say; he's been there and knows what he's writing about. one of my favourite authors..
September 30, 2019
There are so many lines in Timothy Findley's stories that I love to re-write somewhere and read every once in a while. He doesn't shy away from any topic and his characters, stories, and writing feel so real, relatable, and human. Pilgrim was my first and I look forward to reading more of his work!
May 23, 2024
I love you Timothy Findley. This book was a lot shorter than Pilgrim but I enjoyed it just as much…a beautiful collection of lives, both joyful and tragic. Really made me think of the ancient connection between all of us; that we’re all made from the same dust and such.
October 6, 2021
If you want to start searching mortality and day to day life this is for you.
November 22, 2023
Stories. Not many I care about.
April 7, 2024
Some stories resonated with me, others didn’t.
July 30, 2025
Some interesting short stories, all mincing on the theme of mortality.
March 21, 2017
What a delightful day read. Dark and phenomenally written. A true master.
August 24, 2016
Dust to Dust is a collection of nine short stories written by Timothy Findley prior to the year 2000.
I guessed the outcome of The Madonna of the Cherry Trees, but was surprised by the ending of Abracadaver. I highly recommend Infidelity.
Quotations from the back cover -
"Dust is everywhere, but what is it? Is it the dust of death, blowing across a Mediterranean island and etched by the footprints of a small boy? Is it the fine but offending particles on the wings of angels and archangels so carefully brushed away by the Vergerine sisters in the nave of the cathedral? Or is it the smoke languidly rising from that one illicit cigarette?"
"In Dust to Dust, Timothy Findley weaves the consciousness of mortality with the everyday acts of living and loving, of desire and faith. The result is a wonderful collection of stories which swings with a smooth arc between joy and bitterness, satire and candor, comedy and tragedy."
My favourite is Infidelity with the setting in France because it had suspense, humour and reality woven together. "I waited-barely able to deal with the suspense. Thank God for the cigarette. I was almost sick with apprehension. How had this happened? All I had done was overhear a short conversation-and I was already so embroiled in these people's lives I might just as well have been writing them."
As this is my first exposure to this author, I will endeavour to locate and read The Piano Man's Daughter, which was a #1 national best seller and also You Went Away, a novella authored by Timothy Findley.
Thanks to my friends Elizabeth who gave me this book and Sandy who recommended the author, Timothy Findley.
2.5⭐️
I guessed the outcome of The Madonna of the Cherry Trees, but was surprised by the ending of Abracadaver. I highly recommend Infidelity.
Quotations from the back cover -
"Dust is everywhere, but what is it? Is it the dust of death, blowing across a Mediterranean island and etched by the footprints of a small boy? Is it the fine but offending particles on the wings of angels and archangels so carefully brushed away by the Vergerine sisters in the nave of the cathedral? Or is it the smoke languidly rising from that one illicit cigarette?"
"In Dust to Dust, Timothy Findley weaves the consciousness of mortality with the everyday acts of living and loving, of desire and faith. The result is a wonderful collection of stories which swings with a smooth arc between joy and bitterness, satire and candor, comedy and tragedy."
My favourite is Infidelity with the setting in France because it had suspense, humour and reality woven together. "I waited-barely able to deal with the suspense. Thank God for the cigarette. I was almost sick with apprehension. How had this happened? All I had done was overhear a short conversation-and I was already so embroiled in these people's lives I might just as well have been writing them."
As this is my first exposure to this author, I will endeavour to locate and read The Piano Man's Daughter, which was a #1 national best seller and also You Went Away, a novella authored by Timothy Findley.
Thanks to my friends Elizabeth who gave me this book and Sandy who recommended the author, Timothy Findley.
2.5⭐️
September 17, 2014
3.5 STARS
"Is it the dust of death, blowing across a Mediterranean island, and etched by the footprints of a small boy who seems to be a disturbing emblem of his parents' unhappy marriage? Or the fine, but offending dirt that is dealt with so tidily by a diligent hausfrau - almost as tidily as her fellow neighbors rationalize a brutal crime? In Dust to Dust, Timothy Findley is a master of mortality and the powerful, yet often imperceptible bond it forges with memory and reality.
In this brilliant new collection of short stories - his first since the highly acclaimed Stones - Timothy Findley weaves his storytelling spell around a thematically linked collection of stories that move. literally, from dust to dust. Readers will remember Vanessa Van Home, the elderly detective from The Telling of Lies, now involved in a murder mystery where a corpse confounds the line between the magical and the mundane. And the unforgettable Rosedale couple from Findleys "Minna and Bragg" stories, who reappear in two more haunting tales. In the stories that make up "All Must Come to Dust," we are taken into the ancient cultures of Europe, and there confronted by our preconceived notions of what constitutes history and memory." (From Amazon)
The male counterpart to Alice Munro when it comes to short stories. A fine collection.
"Is it the dust of death, blowing across a Mediterranean island, and etched by the footprints of a small boy who seems to be a disturbing emblem of his parents' unhappy marriage? Or the fine, but offending dirt that is dealt with so tidily by a diligent hausfrau - almost as tidily as her fellow neighbors rationalize a brutal crime? In Dust to Dust, Timothy Findley is a master of mortality and the powerful, yet often imperceptible bond it forges with memory and reality.
In this brilliant new collection of short stories - his first since the highly acclaimed Stones - Timothy Findley weaves his storytelling spell around a thematically linked collection of stories that move. literally, from dust to dust. Readers will remember Vanessa Van Home, the elderly detective from The Telling of Lies, now involved in a murder mystery where a corpse confounds the line between the magical and the mundane. And the unforgettable Rosedale couple from Findleys "Minna and Bragg" stories, who reappear in two more haunting tales. In the stories that make up "All Must Come to Dust," we are taken into the ancient cultures of Europe, and there confronted by our preconceived notions of what constitutes history and memory." (From Amazon)
The male counterpart to Alice Munro when it comes to short stories. A fine collection.
May 12, 2016
If half the stories didn't have gays in them, it might be worth recommending. So tiresome to read the self-obsession of these kind of people. Is Findley gay?
Read
October 16, 2009Jeff and I read this way back 2k3 - originally recommended by Deloney and then a thread was put up at Wild City Books n' Movies, by Nicole . . .
http://wildcity.proboards.com/index.c...
I enjoyed it, and I seem to remember, Jeff did too.
The Late Timothy Findley, a Canadian author, wrote some great stuff. I will be adding his books, in particular 'Pilgrim', when I come to 'the data' I have on my site.
http://wildcity.proboards.com/index.c...
I enjoyed it, and I seem to remember, Jeff did too.
The Late Timothy Findley, a Canadian author, wrote some great stuff. I will be adding his books, in particular 'Pilgrim', when I come to 'the data' I have on my site.
April 15, 2013
I found this collection hit or miss. I love that he brought back Vanessa Van Horne from The Telling of Lies in "Abracadaver", a nice little easter egg for those who read that book. Otherwise, what really made this book work for me was the entirety of "Come as You Are". The struggles with the anxiety that comes with not accepting yourself were perfectly written. Sadly, the other stories didn't punch me in the heart as hard as other writings of Findley's.
Want to read
July 20, 2007Disa talked me into this one, too -- or rather, talked it up to me very enthusiastically one night while we were getting drunk at Steamworks. It's another where I've had the copy sitting around for at least six months but haven't gotten to it yet; I think I've read the first story, but not the rest of the book.
September 28, 2016
TF is a wonderful writer and these stories show the same insight and care he brings to all of his work. However, as indicated by the title, these stories were way too morbid to be really savored and enjoyed by me, with one exception. I had to laugh at tale of the couple whose marriage was almost ruined by quitting smoking.
August 6, 2007
All the stories here are terrific little gems. My Personal fave is 'Infidelity'. Yeah, I'm a smoker... hehehe
August 28, 2013
I think I have a new favourite author! Each story had my heart prounding for one reason or another.
September 4, 2016
elegant words; an imaginative expression
October 13, 2012
Best advice I've ever taken from a book:
Reality is what we have to live with
Let us live.
Reality is what we have to live with
Let us live.
October 26, 2012
I adore this book, one of may fav <3
February 17, 2013
"Au secours! Au secours!"
Read
January 27, 2014Short stories - one of my favouites!
October 7, 2015
Terrific collection of short stories. All of them are filled with humour, tragedy and love.
August 9, 2011
Love Findley and this collection of shorts are pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews