Because Somebody Asked Me To: Observations on History, Literature, and the Passing Scene

by Guy Vanderhaeghe

Canadian literary great Guy Vanderhaeghe’s eclectic and wryly insightful collection of nonfiction pieces spans his forty-year writing career.

Many editors and publishers over the years have asked Guy Vanderhaeghe for his thoughts on books and writers, on history, literature, and his own specialty, the historical novel. Because Somebody Asked Me To has all the hallmarks of the author’s fiction: it is intelligent, wise, wry, and a pleasure to read. These essays, reviews, and occasional pieces are about the difficult craft of fiction, about growing up on the prairies, and about the struggle to find his own voice as a writer, as well as about novels by writers he deeply admires. And, throughout, he casts a bemused eye on the entire human comedy.

In 1982, when Guy Vanderhaeghe’s first book appeared, Canadian literature was beginning to be recognized at home and abroad as culturally engaging and significant. Because Somebody Asked Me To gives readers a glimpse into those beginnings and how they shaped the author and his generation of fiction writers. The book also examines how the Canadian literary scene has shifted during the course of his career—the economic, societal, and cultural changes that have made the old world of writing and publishing scarcely recognizable. Because Somebody Asked Me To invites readers to ponder the transformations Canadian writing has undergone, where it is now, and where it might go from here.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 17, 2024

About the author

Guy Clarence Vanderhaeghe, OC, SOM is a Canadian fiction author.

Vanderhaeghe received his Bachelor of Arts degree with great distinction in 1971, High Honours in History in 1972 and Master of Arts in History in 1975, all from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1978 he received his Bachelor of Education with great distinction from the University of Regina. In 1973 he was Research Officer, Institute for Northern Studies, University of Saskatchewan and, from 1974 until 1977, he worked as Archival and Library Assistant at the university. From 1975 to 1977 he was a freelance writer and editor and in 1978 and 1979 taught English and history at Herbert High School in Herbert, Saskatchewan. In 1983 and 1984 he was Writer-in-Residence with the Saskatoon Public Library and in 1985 Writer-in-Residence at the University of Ottawa. He has been a Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa (1985-86), faculty member of the Writing Program of the Banff Centre for the Arts (1990-91), faculty member in charge of senior fiction students in the SAGE Hills Creative Writing Program (1992). Since 1993 he has served as a visiting professor of English at St. Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan.

Vanderhaeghe lives with his wife in Saskatoon.

Vanderhaeghe's first book, Man Descending: selected stories (1982), was winner of a Governor General's Award and the United Kingdom's Faber Prize. A novel, The Englishman's Boy (1996), won him a second Governor General's Award for Fiction and the Saskatchewan Book Award for Fiction and for Best Book of the Year, and it was shortlisted for both the Giller Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

He is perhaps best-known for The Last Crossing (2001), a national bestseller and winner of the Saskatoon Book Award, the Saskatchewan Book Awards for Fiction and for Book of the Year, and the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Fiction Book of the Year. The novel was selected for the 2004 edition of Canada Reads as the book that should be read by all Canadians.

In 2003, Vanderhaeghe was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Reviews

[Jeff Bursey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A review will appear elsewhere in time. For now, this is an inessential book that is only slightly rescued by the last two entries.

Here is the full review that went online February 1, 2025.

https://miramichireader.ca/2025/02/be...

[Anne Gafiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Guy Vanderhaeghe on a flight years ago. He was on his way to a writers' conference, I was heading with my family on holiday. Small talk brought forth he was a writer. When I asked what he had written, he said, "The Englishman's Boy." OMG! We chatted further and he mentioned that his book was going to be turned into a mini series and he had a bit part - a bartender. He asked what I did and I told him that I wrote for property magazines. His reply, "Well, there is a need for that type of writing."

Since that meeting, I have read just about everything Vanderhaeghe has written, enjoying his stories.

This book provides insight into his writing process, including where he finds his ideas. The stories of his childhood and upbringing are also very interesting.

I highly recommend this book for writers of historical fiction and for fans of Vanderhaeghe's books.

[Enid Wray]

I read the piece on The Wars, by Timothy Findley. I too recall when I first encountered and read that title... and have re-read a few times in the intervening almost 50 years.

No time to read it all at the moment... but this is one I will come back to when I have more time in my life.

[Jon Walgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I enjoy Vanderhaeghe's style as an author of historical fiction, I really liked this book of monographs. I especially like the book's last few monographs on history v. historical fiction and the historical comparisons between 'A Man for All Seasons' and 'Wolf Hall.'

[Kathy Stinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interest and especially the essay about writing August in Winter just after reading it

[Andrew Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! About writing and writers (mostly, but not exclusively, Canadian).