Nellie McClung

Extraordinary Canadians

by Charlotte Gray

Feminist, politician, and social activist, Nellie McClung altered Canada's political landscape, leaving a legacy that has long survived her. She had a wicked wit, and her convictions and campaigns helped shape the Canada we live in today. Acclaimed writer Charlotte Gray, who has forged a distinguished career exploring the lives of such notable women as Susanna Moodie and Pauline Johnson, is the perfect writer to reinterpret McClung.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Canada, History, 20th Century, Biography Memoir, Feminism

204 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Charlotte Gray is one of Canada’s best-known writers, and author of eight acclaimed books of literary non-fiction. Born in Sheffield, England, and educated at Oxford University and the London School of Economics, she began her writing career in England as a magazine editor and newspaper columnist. After coming to Canada in 1979, she worked as a political commentator, book reviewer and magazine columnist before she turned to biography and popular history.

Charlotte's most recent book is Gold Diggers, Striking It Rich in the Klondike. In 2008, Charlotte published Nellie McClung, a short biography of Canada’s leading women’s rights activist in the Penguin Series, Extraordinary Canadians. Her 2006 bestseller, Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bell, won the Donald Creighton Award for Ontario History and the City of Ottawa Book Award. It was also nominated for the Nereus Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize, the National Business Book Award and the Trillium Award. Her previous five books, which include Sisters in the Wilderness, The Lives of Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill, Flint & Feather, The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson and A Museum Called Canada, were all award-winning bestsellers.

Charlotte appears regularly on radio and television as a political and cultural commentator. In 2004 she was the advocate for Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, for the CBC series: The Greatest Canadian. She has been a judge for several of Canada’s most prestigious literary prizes, including the Giller Prize for Fiction, the Charles Taylor Prize for Non-fiction and the Shaunessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.

Charlotte has been awarded five honorary doctorates, from Mount St. Vincent University, Nova Scotia, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, York University and Carleton University.

An Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of History at Carleton University, Charlotte is the 2003 Recipient of the Pierre Berton Award for distinguished achievement in popularizing Canadian history. She is former chair of the board of Canada’s National History Society, which publishes the magazine Canada’s History (formerly The Beaver.) She sits on the boards of the Ottawa International Authors Festival, the Art Canada Institute/Institut de l’Art Canadien, and the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa. Charlotte is a member of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Charlotte lives in Ottawa with her husband George Anderson, and has three sons.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When I was in high school, we never learned about the efforts made by a number of women around Canada to gain the vote and other rights. A pivotal figure in Canadian women's suffrage in the early part of the 20th century was Nellie McClung. Nellie McClung was born in Ontario and grew up in Manitoba, and made her biggest imprint on Canada while living in Manitoba and later in Alberta.

Nellie McClung was a firecracker (I think that's the expression.) She had enormous energy, and was raised in a family where hard work was expected. Though Nellie grew up on a farm, she wanted to be a writer, and when given the opportunity, applied herself and learned to read and write, and eventually, trained as a teacher. After getting her teaching position, Nellie began writing, and also became involved in the Temperance movement, as she saw the possibilities in positively affecting women's and their families' lives by reducing and prohibiting access to alcohol. Nellie had heard many a horror story from rural women whose husbands had drunk away all their money, or had beaten their wives, or had otherwise damaged their marriages because of alcohol. Nellie worked tirelessly towards women's suffrage, and took on politicians and anyone else through her writing and her speaking. By all accounts, she was a gifted and funny speaker, and spent much time travelling to different towns for speaking engagements. From her articles on women's rights, it appears she did not share many of the racist sentiments of her contemporaries, and was concerned about the rights of all women, not just those born in Britain or Canada.

Not just a busy mother, writer, and speaker, Nellie even did a stint in government. During this time, she, like many of her contemporaries in North America and Europe, became enamoured of certain ideas popularized by the eugenics movement, such as the forced sterilization of the mentally ill. (There were laws enacted in Alberta and British Columbia that enabled a number of people to be violated.) in different I had a difficulty resolving her rationalization of this practice with all the other good that she did.

After her time in politics, Nellie became involved with a group of Canadian women who collectively became named the Famous Five. They challenged wording in the British North America Act of 1867, specifically whether women were persons under the Act. This wording had been used to exclude women from the Senate. (Canadians, we're not getting into a discussion over the Senate now.) After much hard work by the Famous Five, and significant support from a number of politicians and organizations, the Judiciary Committee of the Privy Council overruled the Supreme Court and declared that women were persons.

Charlotte Gray, the author of this book, has written a light, breezy biography of a dynamic and passionately committed person. I was wondering why there seemed so little information in this biography about Nellie the more private woman, versus the public persona. Turns out Nellie's daughter Florence had burned many of Nellie's papers and diaries upon Nellie's death in 1951, so Charlotte Gray had to base this biography on Nellie's writings, and various other accounts written about this woman.

A couple of Nellie's quotes that stuck with me:

From 1914: "In our blind egotism we class our foreign people as ignorant people, if they do not know our ways and language. They may know many other languages, but if they have not yet mastered ours they are poor ignorant foreigners. We Anglo-Saxon people have a decided sense of our own superiority...We have no reason to be afraid of the foreign woman's vote. I wish we were as sure of the ladies of the Avenue." -- This was in response to the Conservative Party's ridiculing the suggestion that foreign women should be given the right to vote.

From 1915: "The time will come, we hope," she wrote, "when women will be economically free, and mentally and spiritually independent enough to refuse to have their food paid for by men; when women will receive equal pay for equal work and have all avenues of activity open to them; and will be free to choose their own mates, without shame or indelicacy...The new movement among women who are crying out for a larger humanity is going to bring it about."

From 1942 (a month after Pearl Harbour): "We have in this province of British Columbia 23,000 Japanese people, many of the natives of Canada and some of the second generation. We have an opportunity now of showing them that we do respect human rights and that democracy has a wide enough framework to give peace and security to all people of goodwill irrespective of race or colour...We must not sink into Hitler's ways of persecution. We must not punish innocent people. The Canadian Japanese are not to blame for the treacherous attack on Pearl Harbour, nor for the other misdeeds of their misled people."

[Nikki M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nellies knack for writing and public speaking enabled her to effect change.
A great recount of her life story and achievements.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book chronicles the life of writer and political activist Nellie McClung and her work in campaigning for women to get the right to vote and then then the "persons" case. It is interesting to note that through her political activism Nellie worked not only to get political equality for women but also to improve the economic lives of working women and immigrants. One thing I did not know was how women's suffrage went hand in hand with the temperance and prohibition movements at the time.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In December I joined a book club to help me start reading books about Canadian history (which is a topic I would not usually choose to learn about) - Nellie McClung was one of our assigned books. Before reading this biography, I did not know too much about McClung's life. Her name was familiar perhaps from a fleeting reference or two in elementary school or high school, but beyond that, I knew she was an early female politician who changed Canada's social landscape, but not much else. I had no idea how actively she was involved not only in changing the political scene, but also the religious scene of this country (for example, she was one of the very first outspoken advocates of female ordination and the prohibition movement). It is thanks to Nellie's influence in a large way that women like myself are now free to attend seminaries and train as pastors in Canada. I appreciated this volume not only for introducing us to the Nellie of the public sphere, but also the Nellie of the private sphere. The book touches on some of her outside interests, family life, and also some of her deeply held values which were likely handed down to her from her own parents. This genre of book is not one that I would frequent, though I did appreciate expanding my mind a little bit more on a relatively unknown topic. Nellie was truly a woman of quick wit, a dry sense of humour, and someone who knew what she wanted and was determined to achieve her goals. She is truly an inspiration for women and someone that our schools should more diligently teach about.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great biography from Charlotte Gray, who was hampered, maddeningly, by the fact that Nellie's daughter burned all her letters and diaries. It's a biographer's worst nightmare. Nevertheless, she has written a very sprightly and informative account of the life of this early crusader for women's rights.

Although I have read both the first volume of Nellie's own autobiography, Clearing in the West: My Own Story (the title refers to clearing skies, not clearing land), and also the second volume of Nellie's autobiography, The Stream Runs Fast: My Own Story, I still learned a great deal more about her career from this book. McClung was such an admirable women and sadly has not received the widespread recognition she deserves.

[Bob Mcbride · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Learning about this woman and her part in Canada's history. From her upbringing to her role in the evolution of Canada's history, feminism, her being an activist on many levels and subjects. Her role within the CBC. It made me want to know more about her, about her spirit , her strength. The author being frustrated about not being able to find more because some of Nellie's works were burned by her own daughter. It was alarming to read about the attitudes of the days gone by but interesting as to changes made. I'd recommend reading it.

[Joe Seliske · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story to ensure that important Canadians such as Nellie McClung are not forgotten. The tough part is to get twenty-first century Canadians to understand what life was like in the nineteenth century. "No phone, no lights, no motor car, not a single luxury, like Robinson Crusoe, it's primitive as can be."

After that, trying to put the fight to get voting rights is another task.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the life of an important Canadian feminist and suffragette. Read for book club, immensely informative and to the point. This was a quick read. I previously knew nothing about Nellie, and may look into other titles in John Ralston Saul's Extraordinary Canadians series.

[Sharen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for Book Club. Wish it included photographs as CG often tells us about how Nellie looked at various times in her life, but her descriptions are insufficient. Preferred the earlier biography, "Firing the Heather."

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sprightly, informative, yet perfectly concise biography that easily provides a showcase for Nellie McClung and her place in both the history of Canada and of feminism. In this current era of "me too" and "time's up", she would have reveled in the social justice battles of the 21st century.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read on a Canadian pioneer. Filled with known and lost information, Gray fills in gaps, shows the triumphs and failures of Nellie and offers a pretty vivid look at the woman. A great first look for anyone wanting to learn more about her.

[Margaret Riehle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good history lesson on women's involvement in prohibition and the right to vote .

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed her story. It was very unfortunate that all her personal writings and journals were destroyed as it was the only missing piece, her personal reflections.

[Marie-France Leclerc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Easy to read. Glad to discover this important Canadian!

[Nadine Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read. Bit of feminist movement history. Wish there was more than two pages on her support of eugenics, as this has made her a controversial notable Canadian.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the best places to experience Canada Day is in the capital, Ottawa. Last summer my Aunt and Uncle did just that making their first visit. Both are avid readers of Canadian history and spent a great deal of time walking the museums, art galleries and historic neighbourhoods of this great city. A high point was a tour of the Parliamentary precinct. In addition to the buildings, Parliament Hill is full of statuary commemorating various politicians and monarchs (and for some reason Sir Galahad). One installation represents The Famous Five - five women whose actions were responsible for advancing the rights of Canadian women early in the 20th century. The Famous Five consisted of Emily Murphy - the first female judge in the British Empire, Irene Parlby - first female cabinet minister in Alberta, Louise McKinney - the first women elected to any legislative body in the British Empire, Henrietta Edwards - the founding member of the Victorian Order of Nurses and Nellie McClung – suffragist and activist. The installation represents the moment when the five learned the outcome of a famous court case that greatly expanded women's rights in Canada, and changed how our constitution was to be interpreted in the future. My Aunt is a big fan of Nellie McClung - and was keen to visit this memorial. She had recently read Charlotte Gray's biography Nellie McClung for the Extraordinary Canadians series and recommended it to us. I have read only one other book of this series - Tommy Douglas - which I greatly enjoyed. Like the Douglas biography, Gray provides a nice overview of McClung’s life, times, accomplishments and contributions to our Canada. Gray follows the arc of McClung's life, striking a nice balance between historical themes and the individual actions that comprised them. The narrative leans more towards her public rather than private life. Few if any of her personal diaries and correspondence survive making it impossible to create a detailed portrait of Nellie McClung the person. As time passes we lose site of the unique person whose actions had such a profound effect on the tapestry of our history. Nellie McClung was a unique person who faced the challenges of her time. Although incomplete, Gray does a good job of fleshing out the character and personality of this unique individual through secondary sources. This biography stands on its own as an interesting and informative overview of a lived life, or as a starting point for more in-depth research. I would definitely recommend it to others.

[Heeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could talk about Nellie McClung and rave about her acheivements but I am not going to at least not too much. I knew or learned about McClung from grade ten's history and well I left her there, never giving her a second thought, which now seven years later I find it shameful seeing that I consider myself a Canadian born liberal feminist (in a broad sense of course).

An interest in feminism for me ironically also began in grade ten but not because of the Famous Five and the Person's Case. It did not happen in my history class but in my civics class where my teacher who's name I cannot recall at the moment gave me the topic of Honour Killing for a presentation. It was a horrifying eye opener especially when it was happening to young girls from my ethnic background (again in a broad sense). I could relate to our shared culture but not understand the differences in our upbringing.

To be frank, I took feminism hoping to learn and understand why and how could a mother stone her own daughter to death. Instead I was learning that many and the same women thought shaving was anti-feminism, unnatural, and sexified but going topless with bared breasts was a right (because if men can do it then women should be able to do it too). I found every bit of this mundane.

Well until, my recent class. It talks about substance that I love, it talks about struggles and sufferings of one's such as Alice Paul. It's honest that feminism in theory may be about equality but in reality was it really? Especially when many of the beginning feminists (and even many from today) had a superior complex against non-Europeans. I may not like the truth but I highly appreciate the honesty.

And this is exactly what I found in this short non-fiction novel. Do not get me wrong there is subtle bias here and there where I felt that Ms. Gray clearly favoured McClung's way of doing things compared to other feminists discussed in the novel. But the author was completely honest at the same time, something that you may see and feel when you read the book.

What I really appreciated is that this is the very first time I completed an assigned book in it's entirety and thoroughly enjoyed it. It felt as if the book was not a bland narrative but a life story about a very good friend who was charming, witty, and intelligent. Someone who managed to change the face of a nation without having to enforce violence. A feet in itself.

I thoroughly thank the author for writing this book in such a manner that not only did it inspire me but it also gave me new wide perceptions that humbled me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nellie McClung was born in Ontario in 1873, moved to Manitoba as a child, moved to Alberta as an adult, and finally moved out to BC to retire, where she passed away in 1951. In between, she had an incredible "career" as a teacher, a writer, a speaker and an activist for women, children and minority rights. She helped get the vote for women and, as a member of the Famous Five, won the right for women to be considered "persons" (and thus entitled to be part of the federal senate).

I really enjoyed Charlotte Gray's style of writing. She gave just enough detail to explain Nellie's life, events, and accomplishments, but not too many to bog down the reader. I thought I might be bored or confused by the politics, but I wasn't. As such, it was a very accessible read. Gray also did a great job of not only giving the reader a clear of idea of what Nellie did, but also who she was. Turns out our Nellie was a funny, witty, feisty woman who could capture the attention of an audience, yet battle with even the sternest, stuffiest, male politicians.

The author also made a point to mention a few times how the history and status of women differed from what we know it as now. It seems shocking to me that women weren't considered "persons" at the turn of the century, and Gray does a good job of explaining the atmosphere and opinions of the day. I found this helped me appreciate what Nellie and the Famous Five did more - getting the vote for women and changing the British North America Act were HUGE accomplishments at the time and we shouldn't forget that.

My only complaint about this book is that there were no photographs included - even the cover is an illustration. It would've been nice to see pictures of Nellie during the important events that occurred. For example, right after the bill giving Alberta women the right to vote was passed in 1916, Nellie McClung, Alice Jamieson and Emily Murphy celebrated by having their photograph taken. The author even calls this "one of the best photographs ever taken of Nellie McClung" (p.109), but it's not included in the book. Gray also describes in detail the statue of the Famous Five on Parliament hill (p. 189), yet again, no photo. I guess that's what Google is for?

Overall though, this book was a delightful romp through Nellie's life and subsequent accomplishments. I'm glad I now know more about this funny and feisty woman who's name and face are displayed around Edmonton! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Canada's history, from a woman's perspective.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nellie McClung was one of the most influential women in the 20th century in Canada. She was one of a group of women that spearheaded both the Temperance movement and the Suffragette campaign to get the vote for women. She grew up on a remote farm in Manitoba, taught school for awhile and married a pharmacist, Wes McClung. In between raising her family, she belonged to many committees and campaigns to further the causes she believed in. Because of the efforts of Nellie and her cohorts, Manitoban women were the first ones in Canada to be able to vote provincially. She campaigned tirelessly all over the country, not just for the vote but for equality for women. A pioneering feminist, because of her vivacity, she's the one of all the women that joined her in the cause that people remember first.

I didn't know too much about her and picked up this book to learn more. I'm a bit disappointed that the author wasn't able to publish any photos from Nellie's life but I expect that wasn't up to her. This book is part of a series of books on influential Canadians.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sowing Seeds in Danny (authored by Nellie McClung) was one of the books that I really enjoyed when my mom read to our family when we were little. I've read it a couple of times since and I'm pretty sure still have the copy that I'm guessing was published before I was born. Later, I found out more about this remarkable woman. She was born in 1873 and lived much of her life in Manitoba and Alberta. An extreme multi-tasker, she was a leader in society, working to improve the condition of women and families. She was one of the 'Famous Five' a group of women who ultimately were successful in having the Privy Council in the UK interpret the British North America Act that women were people, which was a necessary step for the prime minister to appoint women to the Canadian senate.

This book is a small volume of the 'Extraordinary Canadians' series that nicely summarizes many of McClung's achievements and provides links to other materials to learn more.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my History of Canadian Political Protest class and I couldn't be happier that it was assigned. Charlotte Gray does a fabulous job at taking the reader on a journey through the controversial life of Canadian hero, Nellie McClung. While Gray discusses McClung's importance in the woman's suffrage movement, she also touches on the struggles in MsClung's family life bringing forth the issue that while she was a hero, she was also human. Her life was full of ups and downs but at the end of the day, Nellie McClung was a strong, motivated woman who fought for what she believed in and she should be honoured in Canadian history. All Canadians should read this book as it tells a story of one of the most important, if not the most important woman in Canada's history.

[Bob Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nellie McClung is another of the Extraordinary Canadians series and she certainly was that. Again, as with others in the series, the history and the times in which these books are set are as enjoyable to me as the subject of the book. As a mother, a feminist and an activist, 100 years ago she led the way towards temperance, equal status for women, and achieving the right to vote for women. Also, as with Stephen Leacock and Noman Bethune, important parts of her life were spent close to my home (Chatsworth where she spent her childhood is less than an hour from here.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third read in the Extraordinary Canadians series. This one is highly recommended. I think the author did a great job of getting into Nellie's life and head, and really explained what was happening in the time period.

I enjoyed this book a lot and loved learning about her Western Canadian roots and what Nellie did for women. This is a short book and a great primer for anyone who wants to learn more.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the little biography of Nellie McClung's for the most part but still attitudes of Western writers tries to imply a hint of superiority in their society. Women still face almost insurmountable odds in the West and face violence as much as women of other cultures, no matter those who try and say otherwise. The fight must still go on!

[Jeffrey Sylvester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing style, good read. To know that Canada's suffrage movement largely stemmed from the West was great, and that Western men were more supportive given the effort it took both men and women to survive was interesting as well. Definitely worth the read.

[Kristine Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte Gray writes, "I think that there is more gender equality in any other country I have live in (including Japan, Britain, and the United States), and I think in large measure we can thank Nellie McClung, the most important feminist of her time, for this."

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a lady. I can't believe how much she accomplished. I also can't believe I was never taught about her growing up in Winnipeg. This was a quick good read, I wish that there was more of her voice in the book. I am looking forward to reading more from this series and from Charlotte Gray.

[Teresa Mills-Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book I would recommend to others interesting in Canadian history and in particular the impact western Canadians made for women's rights (to vote and personhood to name but two).

Part of the Canada's History - Important Canadians series.

[ebookclassics · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. A very good introduction to the life of Nellie McClung and her legacy as a first wave feminist in Canada.