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I Heard the Owl Call My Name
I Heard the Owl Call My Name <> Mass Market Paperback <> MargaretCraven <> LaurelPress
Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 1980
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About the author
Margaret Craven
13 books39 followersMargaret was the daughter of Arthur J. Craven, a lawyer, and Emily K. Craven. After she and her twin Wilson were born, her family, including an older brother, Leslie (born 1889), moved from Montana to Bellingham, Washington. After finishing high school in Bellingham, Margaret went to Stanford University (Palo Alto, California) where she majored in history and graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon graduating with distinction in 1924, she moved to San Jose, California, where she was secretary to the managing editor of the Mercury Herald. Soon she began writing the editorials. After the death of the editor, Margaret moved back to Palo Alto and began writing short stories for magazines like the Delineator. When her father died, her mother came to live with her and they moved to San Francisco. In 1941 her stories began appearing in the Saturday Evening Post. Although seriously hindered by near-blindness caused by a busaccident and bacterial infection, she continued to write. In 1960, an operation gave her sight back, and she began to write novels.
Margaret and her mother moved to Sacramento, California in 1959, where her brother Wilson was living. She learned about the Native-Americans of the northern British Columbia coast, first from her brother Wilson who had visited there, and then from reading published accounts of the native culture. In 1962, Margaret arranged with the Columbia Coast Mission of the Anglican Church to visit Kingcome and other native Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) villages on the B.C. coast. Out of this experience came her first novel, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, which was published in Canada in 1967, and then in 1973 in the U.S. where it became a best seller. The same year it was adapted as a television movie for General Electric Theater on CBS. The American edition of the book sold over one million copies and was translated into several languages.
Margaret Craven died at home in Sacramento on July 19, 1980, predeceased by both her mother and her twin brother Wilson.
Upon graduating with distinction in 1924, she moved to San Jose, California, where she was secretary to the managing editor of the Mercury Herald. Soon she began writing the editorials. After the death of the editor, Margaret moved back to Palo Alto and began writing short stories for magazines like the Delineator. When her father died, her mother came to live with her and they moved to San Francisco. In 1941 her stories began appearing in the Saturday Evening Post. Although seriously hindered by near-blindness caused by a busaccident and bacterial infection, she continued to write. In 1960, an operation gave her sight back, and she began to write novels.
Margaret and her mother moved to Sacramento, California in 1959, where her brother Wilson was living. She learned about the Native-Americans of the northern British Columbia coast, first from her brother Wilson who had visited there, and then from reading published accounts of the native culture. In 1962, Margaret arranged with the Columbia Coast Mission of the Anglican Church to visit Kingcome and other native Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) villages on the B.C. coast. Out of this experience came her first novel, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, which was published in Canada in 1967, and then in 1973 in the U.S. where it became a best seller. The same year it was adapted as a television movie for General Electric Theater on CBS. The American edition of the book sold over one million copies and was translated into several languages.
Margaret Craven died at home in Sacramento on July 19, 1980, predeceased by both her mother and her twin brother Wilson.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 17, 2025
A short prose about a Anglican vicar who unbeknownest to him is terminally ill and is sent by his church Bishop to a British Columbian Indigenous village at a time of cultural change to learn as much about life as possible for his remaining time. I remember this book when I was a young lad in the late 60's and had forgotten how powerful the messages it contained.
I recommend it to all.
I recommend it to all.
December 19, 2024
This is the second book that I have given a five star rating, Margaret Craven, and I heard the owl call my name. My friend was reading this book and suggested it. It is the story of a clergyman going into the world of the Indians. He has been sent there by his bishop. It is simply written and relates in the purist of terms the life of this man and how he becomes one with their community. It is a short book under 200 pages.
This story has made me feel that there is hope if we just return to the simplicities of life without much of the
“outside” getting into us. Staying in the knowing that life can be simple with just good friends, food & shelter.
This story has made me feel that there is hope if we just return to the simplicities of life without much of the
“outside” getting into us. Staying in the knowing that life can be simple with just good friends, food & shelter.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews