William Boyd: Silver Tongue and Golden Pen

by Ian Carr

William Boyd (1885-1979) was one of the most influential pathologists and medical educators of the twentieth century. His books spread his influence world-wide. He had in his youth immersed himself in English literature, and what he had learned remained for a lifetime to quicken his tongue and polish his pen. He grew up in Scotland and trained at Edinburgh University; soon afterward he served as a medical officer in Flanders, and wrote movingly about it. His appointment as Professor of Pathology in the University of Manitoba in 1915 arose from the influence of a friend, but he learned pathology fast and in the intellectually fertile environment of Winnipeg wrote a series of textbooks whose vivid style won him readers, reputation and wealth. In 1937 he moved to the University of Toronto and, after his first retirement, for several years to the University of British Columbia. In his latter years he revised his books and remained a significant force in medical education.

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Ian Carr was a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator.

Apart from writing a regular column for the BBC Music Magazine, Carr wrote biographies of the jazz musicians Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis. He was also the co-author of the reference work The Rough Guide to Jazz which has passed through four editions from 1994 (originally Jazz, The Essential Companion, 1988). In addition he contributed sleeve notes for the albums of other musicians (eg "Indo-Jazz Fusions" by Joe Harriott/John Mayer).

In 1987, he was appointed associate professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he taught composition and performance, especially improvisation and was founder of the jazz workshop at the Interchange arts scheme, where pianist Julian Joseph, amongst others, was one of his students.