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My Discovery of America
Book by Mowat, Farley
125 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Farley Mowat
116 books646 followersFarley McGill Mowat was a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.
Many of his most popular works have been memoirs of his childhood, his war service, and his work as a naturalist. His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books.
Mowat studied biology at the University of Toronto. During a field trip to the Arctic, Mowat became outraged at the plight of the Ihalmiut, a Caribou Inuit band, which he attributed to misunderstanding by whites. His outrage led him to publish his first novel, People of the Deer (1952). This book made Mowat into a literary celebrity and was largely responsible for the shift in the Canadian government's Inuit policy: the government began shipping meat and dry goods to a people they previously denied existed.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship RV Farley Mowat was named in honour of him, and he frequently visited it to assist its mission.
Many of his most popular works have been memoirs of his childhood, his war service, and his work as a naturalist. His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books.
Mowat studied biology at the University of Toronto. During a field trip to the Arctic, Mowat became outraged at the plight of the Ihalmiut, a Caribou Inuit band, which he attributed to misunderstanding by whites. His outrage led him to publish his first novel, People of the Deer (1952). This book made Mowat into a literary celebrity and was largely responsible for the shift in the Canadian government's Inuit policy: the government began shipping meat and dry goods to a people they previously denied existed.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship RV Farley Mowat was named in honour of him, and he frequently visited it to assist its mission.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2019
It's amazing how some of his experiences are mirrored today in political thought and practices - and this before 911! I was brought back to a time, not that long ago, when land lines were standard and mail was the way to communicate. I also loved hearing some names that were front and centre in political and journalistic life. So many, including this author are now dead, but his rhetoric certainly lives on here in my town, not far from his residence in Port Hope.
September 17, 2012
Nothing new under the sun!
Mowat's book is a wonderful journal of his experiences being barred from entering the USA for reasons unknown, likely to do with his novels(?) or maybe a book he wrote about Soviets(?) or maybe his own hosting of socialist authors(?). While reading this I couldn't help but think about the current Patriot Act, the supreme power of US border agents to control the lives of travellers with or without any information. This is a great book for a critical review during this time in history. Or any time, as we see from Mowat's story, which still rings true for more than one border crosser (myself included).
Although I do read a bit of first-world entitlement in this novel...especially given that in today's world Mowat would probably have been imprisoned, rather than just retrieved off an airplane en route to the US and asked into the little office. But that doesn't make it okay!
Mowat's book is a wonderful journal of his experiences being barred from entering the USA for reasons unknown, likely to do with his novels(?) or maybe a book he wrote about Soviets(?) or maybe his own hosting of socialist authors(?). While reading this I couldn't help but think about the current Patriot Act, the supreme power of US border agents to control the lives of travellers with or without any information. This is a great book for a critical review during this time in history. Or any time, as we see from Mowat's story, which still rings true for more than one border crosser (myself included).
Although I do read a bit of first-world entitlement in this novel...especially given that in today's world Mowat would probably have been imprisoned, rather than just retrieved off an airplane en route to the US and asked into the little office. But that doesn't make it okay!
July 30, 2025
40 years ago Farley Mowat wrote a surprisingly clear answer to our 2025 question: “what the hell has America got against Canada?” It’s a quick, fun, intelligent read; just 125 pages, that reconfirms my present vow to indefinitely stay on this side of the border.
March 13, 2021
It’s always a treat to read Mowat!
May 18, 2011
repetetetetetive. I guessed the ending. Didnt actually finish
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews