I'm delighted to say that Repairing the World: Sheila Kussner and the Power of Empathy, has just been published. This was a work commissioned by a Montreal-based committee, but they gave me free rein to portray the life, character, and achievements of a truly remarkable person I knew nothing about. Famous in Montreal, Sheila Kussner... Continue Reading →
“Jackson’s Wars” on Remembrance Day
On this November 11, my latest book Jackson's Wars is the subject of my conversation with Greg Marchildon on the Champlain Society's popular podcast Witness to Yesterday, "The Artist Soldier," episode 198. You can also read an excerpt detailing Jackson's traumatic experiences at Sanctuary Wood on the Ypres salient in June 1916.
A gold coin dating to 1422-27 has been found in Newfoundland. Now what?
As the Canadian Press reported today (link here to the article in the Globe & Mail), a gold coin minted in London between 1422 and 1427 has been found in an undisclosed location on the south coast of Newfoundland. While experts caution that the coin wasn't necessarily in Newfoundland at that date, it inevitably will... Continue Reading →
I’m now on mastodon
I've switched microblogging platforms from the bird thing to mastodon, where you can follow me at @dwhauthor@mastodon.social. Hope to see some of you over there. My twitter account remains active (for now) for notifying followers of postings here.
The Wawinet: 80 years gone
On the night of September 21/22, 1942, the 87-foot motor yacht Wawinet sank on southeastern Georgian Bay. Twenty-five of forty-two people aboard that pleasure cruise drowned. As I related in the post "Wreckage," in the summer of 2021, I went looking for her.
The last voyage of the Gloucester in 1682: the loss of a royal ship and the implications for the future James II
The discovery of the wreck of the Gloucester, a royal ship en route to Scotland with James Stuart, the future James II of England, aboard, has been revealed. The wreck was found in 2007 but kept a secret until its identity was confirmed. Claire Jowitt has a new article in English Historical Review (free to... Continue Reading →