Timothy Findley

Timothy Irving Frederick Findley, OC , O. Ont. (October 30, 1930 - June 20, 2002) was a Canadian novelist and playwright, who was one of Canada's most famous writers.

Related Topics:
OC - O. Ont. - October 30 - 1930 - June 20 - 2002 - Canadian

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Born in Toronto, Ontario, Findley was raised in the upper class Rosedale district of the city, attending boarding school at St. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario). He pursued a career in the arts, studying dance and acting, and had significant success as an actor before turning to writing.

Related Topics:
Toronto - Ontario - Rosedale - St. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario)

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His first two novels, The Last of the Crazy People (1967) and The Butterfly Plague (1969), were rejected by Canadian publishers and were eventually published in Britain. Published to great critical acclaim, Findley's third novel The Wars went on to win the Governor General's Award for fiction and was adapted for film in 1981.

Related Topics:
Novel - 1967 - 1969 - Britain - Governor General's Award

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Timothy Findley received a Governor General's Award, the Canadian Authors Association Award, an ACTRA Award, the Order of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Award, and in 1985 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was a founding member and chair of the Writers' Union of Canada, and a president of the Canadian chapter of PEN International.

Related Topics:
Governor General's Award - Order of Ontario - Trillium Award - Order of Canada - Writers' Union of Canada - PEN International

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His writing, typical of the Southern Ontario Gothic genre, was heavily influenced by Jungian psychology, and mental illness, gender and sexuality were frequent recurring themes in his work. His characters often carried dark personal secrets, and were often conflicted -- sometimes to the point of psychosis -- by these burdens.

Related Topics:
Southern Ontario Gothic - Jungian - Mental illness - Gender - Sexuality - Psychosis

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He resided in rural Ontario and the south of France with his partner, William Whitehead. He was honoured by the French government, who declared him a "Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres".

Related Topics:
France - William Whitehead

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Timothy Findley died in France.

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