Farley McGill Mowat

Born:

May 12, 1921, Belleville, Ontario, Canada

Died:

May 6, 2014, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Nationality:

Canadian

Profession(s):

Author, Environmentalist

Early Life and Education

• Mowat's family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's career as a librarian.
• He developed an early interest in nature and writing, publishing nature articles in his teens.
• Served in the Canadian Army during World War II.
• Attended the University of Toronto after the war.

Career and Major Achievements

• Began writing full-time after university.
• Known for his passionate advocacy for wildlife and the environment.
• His works often blended personal experience with natural history.
• Generated controversy for his outspoken criticisms of government policies and industrial practices.

Notable Works

• People of the Deer (1952): Focused on the plight of the Ihalmiut Inuit.
• The Dog Who Wouldn't Be (1957): A humorous account of his childhood dog.
• Lost in the Barrens (1956): A children's novel winning the Governor General's Award.
• Owls in the Family (1961): Another humorous and beloved children's book.
• Never Cry Wolf (1963): A semi-fictionalized account of his time studying wolves in the Arctic. The book, Never Cry Wolf, challenged popular misconceptions about wolves and played a significant role in their conservation.
• A Whale for the Killing (1972): An account of the killing of a fin whale trapped in a Newfoundland inlet.
• Sea of Slaughter (1984): A detailed chronicle of the destruction of marine life in the North Atlantic.

Legacy and Impact

Farley Mowat's work had a profound impact on Canadian environmental consciousness and influenced public perception of wildlife, particularly wolves. He was a prolific writer and a tireless advocate for environmental protection. Despite controversies surrounding the accuracy of some of his works, his passion and dedication inspired generations of readers and activists.

Awards and Recognition

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