The Cremation of Sam McGee

Robert W. Service; paintings by Ted Harrison

ISBN 10: 0919964923 / ISBN 13: 9780919964921

Published by Kids Can Press, 1987

About this Item

The Cremation of Sam McGee; by Robert W. Service; paintings by Ted Harrison; introduction by Pierre Berton; Kids Can Press Ltd., Toronto, 4th printing 1987. Nice presentation and original drawing by Harrison on the title page. From the blurb From the glory days of the Gold Rush when fortunes and legends were made and lost on the turn of a card, generations of dreamers in Europe and America have been fascinated by the romance and mystery of the Yukon. Yet no one has more evocatively captured the allure in the land of the midnight sun than Robert Service in his most famous poem The Cremation of Sam McGee. And perhaps nothing has more compellingly portrayed the ice in the Arctic air or the electrifying impact of the northern lights than the haunting paintings of Ted Harrison. What better combination then, than these two northern legends. Pierre Berton It is a joy to see these two unique talents combined. They have so much in common: a sense of discovery, a brashness, and a feeling of joie de vivre that is to be heard in the driving force of the Service narratives and seen in the dazzling vibrations of the Harrison art. Robert William Service (1874 1958) was an English-born Canadian poet and writer, often called The Poet of the Yukon" and "The Canadian Kipling". Born in Lancashire of Scottish descent, he was a bank clerk by trade, but spent long periods travelling in the west in the United States and Canada, often in poverty. When his bank sent him to the Yukon, he was inspired by tales of the Klondike Gold Rush, and wrote two poems, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", which showed remarkable authenticity from an author with no experience of the gold rush or mining, and enjoyed immediate popularity. Encouraged by this, he quickly wrote more poems on the same theme, which were published as Songs of a Sourdough, followed by his next collection, Ballads of a Cheechako. Edward Hardy Harrison CM RCA LL.D. (1926 2015) was an English-Canadian artist. Beginning in 1968, Harrison resided in Yukon, Canada, a location with prominence in many of his works. He stayed there until 1993. He worked, from the 1970s and thus in his post-academic capacity, not only as an artist but also as an illustrator and author. His work in the field earned him a national first: selection for the International Children s book Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. One of his illustrations is of the Robert Service poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee". He often tried unexpected colours to depicted features. In 1987, Harrison was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian culture. He also held honorary doctorates from Athabasca University (1991), the University of Victoria (1998) and the University of Alberta (2005) He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. There is an active market for his art with a recent piece, People of the Lake, selling for over C$100,000. This large format book is in fine condition in a near-fine dust jacket that is now in a protective mylar wrap.

Seller Inventory # 2533d

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Cremation of Sam McGee
• Publisher: Kids Can Press
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0919964923
• ISBN 13: 9780919964921
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Harrison, Ted
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed by Illustrator(s)

About this title

Synopsis

In 1986 Kids Can Press published an edition of Robert Service's "The Cremation of Sam McGee" illustrated by painter Ted Harrison, who used his signature broad brushstrokes and unconventional choice of color to bring this gritty narrative poem to life. Evoking both the spare beauty and the mournful solitude of the Yukon landscape, Harrison's paintings proved the perfect match for Service's masterpiece about a doomed prospector adrift in a harsh land. Harrison's Illustrator's Notes on each page enhanced both poem and illustrations by adding valuable historical background. Upon its original publication, many recognized the book as an innovative approach to illustrating poetry for children. For years The Cremation of Sam McGee has stood out as a publishing landmark, losing none of its appeal both as a read-aloud and as a work of art. Kids Can Press proudly publishes this deluxe hardcover twentieth anniversary edition -- complete with a spot-varnished cover, new cover art and heavy coated stock -- of a book that remains as entrancing as a night sky alive with the vibrant glow of the Northern Lights.

About the Authors

Robert Service was born in England and earned a worldwide reputation as a poet of the Arctic. He died in Europe in 1958.

Ted Harrison is an internationally acclaimed artist best known for his vibrant interpretations of the Canadian North. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.