Emily

by Florence McNeil

In Emily Florence McNeil has translated her own love of the West Coast and its rainforests, seas and mountains into poetry based on the life and work of Emily Carr.

The main themes of Emily's life are here: her struggle to define herself as a Canadian artist at a time when there was little Canadian art that was not reliant on the genteel tradition of a former time; her love-hate relationship with her family; her attempts to carve out her own lifestyle in conservative, respectable Victoria; her spiritual struggle.

Emily Carr's words and works are well known. This is less a biography than a poetic tribute to a singular woman who overcame the struggles that all artists (and perhaps especially Canadian artists) have to undergo in their attempts to make reality of their visions.

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Florence McNeil was born and raised in Vancouver. She has her BA and MA in creative writing from UBC, and spent a number of years teaching in Canadian and American Universities. She has published 11 books of poetry, three novels for young readers, a picture book for children, a novel for adults and two plays. She has also edited two books of poetry. Her work has been translated into a dozen languages, and has won awards in Canada and the U.S.