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Emily Carr: The Incredible Life and Adventures of a West Coast Artist
This is the story of a rebellious girl from BC who travelled the world in pursuit of her calling only to find her true inspiration in the Canadian landscape she'd left behind. Despite numerous setbacks, she persevered. Today, Emily Carr is a Canadian icon. Her story is a testament to individuality and an inspiration to all.
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 7, 2026
There was alot that I found interesting about this book. I was unfamiliar with Emily Carr and I admired that she pursued her art, finding success and support at times but also struggling immensely for recognition and perhaps most importantly from a day-to-day perspective, financial success.
I looked up her art and what I saw was good. I enjoyed much of it, although a few pieces weren't to my personal taste. I was most intrigued by her passion for preserving and recording the art of First Nation's people.
She was described as an animal lover, which I think was true but I will admit I winced at the way tamed birds were killed, as well her keeping a monkey as a pet. I appreciate it was a different era but I think there are few situations where these animals should be kept as pets - rehabilitation scenarios perhaps, which did not apply here.
I am unsure if my difficulty in bonding with Emily was due to the person, or how she was portrayed in this particular book. She came across as cruel at times, rude to most and a large contributor to her own struggles. However, is this gaor, or just this authors take on her life? I have marked some of Emily Carr's writings to read, which I look forward to. If I enjoy them, I will look out for another, more detailed, biography to see of that offers a differing perspective.
I respect a woman pursuing her art despite the many obstacles, as well as overcoming mental breakdowns and other challenging circumstances. I was pleased to discover a new artist, even if the book that did it wasn't a favourite.
Thank you to my friend Carolyn for sending it to me to serve as an introduction to an important Canadian artist.
I looked up her art and what I saw was good. I enjoyed much of it, although a few pieces weren't to my personal taste. I was most intrigued by her passion for preserving and recording the art of First Nation's people.
She was described as an animal lover, which I think was true but I will admit I winced at the way tamed birds were killed, as well her keeping a monkey as a pet. I appreciate it was a different era but I think there are few situations where these animals should be kept as pets - rehabilitation scenarios perhaps, which did not apply here.
I am unsure if my difficulty in bonding with Emily was due to the person, or how she was portrayed in this particular book. She came across as cruel at times, rude to most and a large contributor to her own struggles. However, is this gaor, or just this authors take on her life? I have marked some of Emily Carr's writings to read, which I look forward to. If I enjoy them, I will look out for another, more detailed, biography to see of that offers a differing perspective.
I respect a woman pursuing her art despite the many obstacles, as well as overcoming mental breakdowns and other challenging circumstances. I was pleased to discover a new artist, even if the book that did it wasn't a favourite.
Thank you to my friend Carolyn for sending it to me to serve as an introduction to an important Canadian artist.
February 7, 2017
I heard of Emily Carr via Eric Wilson's mystery series. I am no British Columbian but anything written well is enjoyable. Regrettably, I disliked Emily! Cat Klerks acknowledged character contradictions and meanness but this has never happened! Interviews and biographies usually muster sympathy. Cat established no coherent image, making "The Incredible Life And Adventures Of A West Coast Artist" a jumble. I wondered how much it misinterpreted Emily. By activist and rescuer standards, this was no animal-lover! Befriending critters in the wild, fine. Breeding puppies and caging wild animals, then deciding it is okay to end their lives!? An outrage!
I received no clear notion of a talent, born to paint; I believe because Cat flatly recited the history she drummed-up. This book read like a student handing-in a report; a run-on sentence instead of a re-enactment spun into a story. Everything was rattled off: Emily found Victoria stuffy but England and France were so busy, she had a breakdown. She was praised in France but was too avant-garde in Victoria. She housed boarders, to whom she was a bitch but didn't stand up to her worst sisters. She loved one man but avoided others, due to molestation from a supposedly religious parent.
This is how dryly the biography was told, without dialogue or action. Luckily later contents were enthralling in their own right. I enjoyed reading about Emily travelling to dense forest locales, to preserve Aboriginal totem poles in portraits. Cat had it sounding like Emily had nearly nothing to do with painting, between France and this project and that fame only came after she was an acclaimed authoress. Individual facts are likely accurate but I did not believe they were presented well. I had no trouble appreciating numerous facets of history in the "Incredible Stories" series, before this.
I received no clear notion of a talent, born to paint; I believe because Cat flatly recited the history she drummed-up. This book read like a student handing-in a report; a run-on sentence instead of a re-enactment spun into a story. Everything was rattled off: Emily found Victoria stuffy but England and France were so busy, she had a breakdown. She was praised in France but was too avant-garde in Victoria. She housed boarders, to whom she was a bitch but didn't stand up to her worst sisters. She loved one man but avoided others, due to molestation from a supposedly religious parent.
This is how dryly the biography was told, without dialogue or action. Luckily later contents were enthralling in their own right. I enjoyed reading about Emily travelling to dense forest locales, to preserve Aboriginal totem poles in portraits. Cat had it sounding like Emily had nearly nothing to do with painting, between France and this project and that fame only came after she was an acclaimed authoress. Individual facts are likely accurate but I did not believe they were presented well. I had no trouble appreciating numerous facets of history in the "Incredible Stories" series, before this.
July 4, 2018
My favorite part was when Emily started to earn a living from her writings about her life. My least favorite part was when Emily kept running into disaster, such as getting sick in London, and Paris,and the art show being a failure later on. Before this I had never heard of Emily Carr, but now I have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2018
I had never heard of Emily Carr until I saw her statue in Victoria, BC. Cat Klerks gave a great introduction to this woman of many talents. So glad I read the book.
September 28, 2019
Great introduction to Emily Carr. Succinct and well written.
March 15, 2021
Entertaining as well as educational, Emily is a treasure and this thin volume is a great way to discover or learn more about her.
August 21, 2021
Thin volume, a glimpse into the life of Canadian artist (Contemporary to Group of Seven) and author, Emily Carr. Woman of solitude, West Coast artist 1871 to 1945.
February 19, 2022
Interesting woman.
September 5, 2025
A short readable account of Carr's life for younger readers. This should be read alongside colour illustrations of her work and some of her short stories.
September 3, 2016
On a recent trip to Victoria (Emily Carr's birthplace) I was able to reconnect with my love of Emily Carr - both her art and her writing have always been favorites. This great little books is a wonderful introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about the amazing woman who was Emily Carr.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews