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Emily Carr: Author

Her sense of humor and fun shone through in her first book, Klee Wyck, which won a Governor General's award for non-fiction in 1941.

Each of the books contained in the omnibus are autobiographical in nature. Carr's love of her family figures strongly, though she endures the bossiness of her older sisters being the youngest girl. It is widely acknowledged that in her early works Klee Wyck and The Book of Small she takes dramatic license in reflecting her family. Obviously in the latter book Carr chooses to write as a young child and her 'unfair' treatment is evident. How could anyone deny a little girl her heart's desire: a puppy?

The House of All Sorts charmingly reflects Emily Carr's long career as a landlady. Various individuals with a multitude of personalities crossed paths with her and their stories are humorously recalled.

An animal lover with a growing menagerie including cats, dogs, and a monkey she simply had to write about her experience. While a landlady to make ends meet she began to operate a Bobtail Kennel. It is obvious, that of all the residents that made it a house of all sorts, it was the dogs that brought the most joy to Emily Carr.

Growing Pains begins the fascinating journey of Carr's artistic career. She traveled to the USA, England and France to learn her craft though was never quite satisfied. While in England she became ill and spent well over a year in a sanatorium where the conditions seemed all but medieval. Yet Carr survived, as she survived most of the tragedies in her life surrounding herself with animals in this case birds, hoping to breed them and take them to Canada. It didn't work out quite as planned.

Given Emily owned and loved so many pets during her lifetime it would seem strange if she hadn't written one book dedicated to discussing her menagerie. The Heart of a Peacock continues the story of her dog breeding days and includes stories of the lovable and often mischievous Woo, the monkey. Carr bought a caravan and would have it towed to the country to allow her time to paint. Many of her pets made the journey, including Woo, who never did quite learn that eating paint was poisonous. He survived blue, green and yellow thanks to Emily Carr's loving care of him.

Emily Carr's narrative comes together in Pause: A Sketchbook. It is a brief autobiography of the highlights and tribulations of her life, such as meeting the Group of Seven or spending time in the Sanatorium.

Carr kept a diary and it was published as Hundreds and Thousands. It is fascinating to read her notes of the 1927 meeting with the Group of Seven and her journey to Ottawa to view the Exhibition of Canadian West Coast Art Native and Modern at the National Gallery. She found the exhibit to be a dismal failure given the lack of attendees to the opening reception. Yet significantly the exhibit is being partially recreated as part of the New Perspectives exhibit.