Apologia

Apologia

                Canadian literature can often be the center of literary jokes, however, “The Stone Carvers,” by Jane Urquhart crushes these stereotypes as it was, “a finalist for both the Giller Prize and the Governor General's Award” (“Biography Base”). Not to mention the author’s ongoing list of awards which even includes a Governor General’s Award and a Trillium Award. Novels may win awards all the time, but, Jane’s extensive list has allowed her work to reach global recognition and has proved Canadian literature on the world’s stage. So who then seems more befitting to be a Canadian icon (and creator of “The Stone Carvers,” the canon of Canadian literature) than her?

Jane has been rooted in Canadian soil since her birth in, “Little Longlac, Ontario” (“Biography Base”). Being brought up in Canada (more specifically Toronto) Jane has brought her experiences into her novels as she talks, “of the migrating birds and the winding roads and trails of Ontario” (“Bookreporter”).  Due to Jane’s personal firsthand experience with the our great country of Canada and her stories of it her novels “have been published in many countries, including Holland, France, Germany, Britain, Scandinavia, Australia, and The United States” (“Biography”) and to top it off have “been translated into several languages” (“Biography”). There are many qualities Jane possesses but one that seems to really stand out is the fact that she writes about Canada’s wilderness and creates intricate settings that revolve around Canada and its participation to global events. So often authors are more pre occupied on the necessity of income that they often overlook Canada’s potentials in fiction and as a result choose to root their novels in settings where they will attract a larger base of people that can relate to their material, rather than emphasizing the true beauty Canada has to offer. Essentially Jane has shaped herself into a respectable individual not only recognized for her work in Canadian literature but also on a global scale.

Understanding Canada’s significance to the war and wanting to eternalize the losses of war are emotions that only overcome the most patriotic of citizens. In “The Stone Carvers,” Jane has used her literary influence to place a large emphasis on Vimy Ridge (and all those that fought for it). She has accomplished this because of the fact that she has produced outstanding works of literature that has established her fame and renown. This means that now any novel she creates will be read by an extensive crowd and the central themes in her novels are realized and recognized on a global scale. Had she not taken the time to research this expansive topic the monument may have otherwise slipped away from the world’s collective memory, turning into nothing but a chapter in the history books. To top things off the novel is very informative as it gives various accounts about different industries as well as feelings from local settlers, which (when meshed together) led to an intriguing reality of the time. Even in the introduction in the priest's narration you were able to grasp the conflicts present at the time when Canada was being settled. Due to this it creates a great foundation for the story to build upon. What better way to learn about your nation than by researching its development.

Accumulating this information and weaving it together would have been no easy task, and yet, Jane Urquhart has found a reason to complete this exact task, and must I say with considerable effectiveness. Many citizens of this great country take our situation for granted and fail to realise the numerous soldiers that fought for the incredible lifestyle we lead today. For the reasons already stated it only seems fit that “The Stone Carvers” by Jane Urquhart should remain a canon of Canadian literature.