timothy findley
Guy Quenneville
Friday, January 17th, 2003
The Wars by Timothy Findley:
Pre-Writing Notes
Secondary Sources
“The Wars remains Findley’s most-discussed book. Based partly on the wartime correspondence of his uncle, Thomas Irving Findley, and on family photos, he wrote the novel in guise of a researcher trying to reconstruct the story of Robert Ross, a soldier of the Great War. The book explores many of the obsessions that color all his writing: violence, loneliness, a concern for animal rights, and the survival of the individual in a world of madness. Findley believes that a writer has a responsibility to speak out about what is wrong with society.” (National Library of Canada @ http://www.nlcbnc.ca/3/8/t8-2008-e.html)
“In Timothy Findley's The Wars, one of the ways in which he conveys his feelings about the war is through the mention of songs, works of literature and various works of art.
These aspects all help reinforce the romantic misinterpretations of war that are held by the people that went to fight, as well as those people waiting for them upon their return.
The following is a list of some of these references, their page numbers as well as a description of their significance to the story.” (Acadia University class website @ http://ace.acadiau.ca/english/rmorriso/findley/Findley2.htm) “Prior to the writing of The Wars, it was unheard of for any writer who had not experienced it first hand to write about "The War to End All Wars". However, Findley, with his direct and shocking style, was able to surpass this barrier and create one of the most acclaimed novels about World War I. With 'wars' being plural, it indicates that the novel is not only about the Great War, but also about internal battles that Robert Ross is fighting with himself as he struggles to adapt to a new way of life in the army and without his sister who he loved very much.” (Acadia)
“Findley refers to the people prior to World War I as calm and shy, tending to stay
Friday, January 17th, 2003
The Wars by Timothy Findley:
Pre-Writing Notes
Secondary Sources
“The Wars remains Findley’s most-discussed book. Based partly on the wartime correspondence of his uncle, Thomas Irving Findley, and on family photos, he wrote the novel in guise of a researcher trying to reconstruct the story of Robert Ross, a soldier of the Great War. The book explores many of the obsessions that color all his writing: violence, loneliness, a concern for animal rights, and the survival of the individual in a world of madness. Findley believes that a writer has a responsibility to speak out about what is wrong with society.” (National Library of Canada @ http://www.nlcbnc.ca/3/8/t8-2008-e.html)
“In Timothy Findley's The Wars, one of the ways in which he conveys his feelings about the war is through the mention of songs, works of literature and various works of art.
These aspects all help reinforce the romantic misinterpretations of war that are held by the people that went to fight, as well as those people waiting for them upon their return.
The following is a list of some of these references, their page numbers as well as a description of their significance to the story.” (Acadia University class website @ http://ace.acadiau.ca/english/rmorriso/findley/Findley2.htm) “Prior to the writing of The Wars, it was unheard of for any writer who had not experienced it first hand to write about "The War to End All Wars". However, Findley, with his direct and shocking style, was able to surpass this barrier and create one of the most acclaimed novels about World War I. With 'wars' being plural, it indicates that the novel is not only about the Great War, but also about internal battles that Robert Ross is fighting with himself as he struggles to adapt to a new way of life in the army and without his sister who he loved very much.” (Acadia)
“Findley refers to the people prior to World War I as calm and shy, tending to stay