« Emily’s Carr’s The Book of Small: autobiographical or historiographical fiction?»

Today, Emily Carr (1871 – 1945) is primarily known as one of Canada’s most famous painters. Her work gained commercial success towards the end of her life and her popularity today is stronger than it ever was during her lifetime. (footnote 1) An animal lover, a keen admirer of First Nation’s culture and Canadian nature; subject matter that is strongly portrayed in her work, gave her the reputation of being eccentric during her time. The themes in her work, which are modern day preoccupations: the environment, the status of the First Nationspopular today, but ahead of their time during her life, undoubtedly contribute to her current day popularity. Her current day status as a Canadian icon is due to her artistic contributions to Canada and because as a women she she The fact that, as a woman Refusing to conform to social expectations, she is considered a women who was born before her time. She started writing later on in life and was encouraged to write about her childhood in a by but in the early 1930s Lawren Harris encouraged her to compile her recollections of her time in First Nations villages and to begin to write her autobiography.1 (1 Paula Blanchard, The Life of Emily Carr (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1987), p. 236.) Eight titles have been published by Carr (all but one are still in print), but The Book of Small and Klee Wyck were the only works published during her lifetime..(footnote or other2) Her books have played an important role in establishing her legacy and continue to influence the ways in which successive new generations appreciate her art and her life. elements which I feel are important to bear in mind when considering the nature of the text. Is Carr’s The Book of Small an autobiographical or historiographical fiction? In this paper I shall consider the context in which Carr wrote the text. I shall examine the autobiographical elements