From sword to pen : the life and works of the Honourable Cyrus J. MacMillan (1878-1953)
Kathleen M. MacMillan (Author)
"Cyrus John MacMillan, academic, educator, author, soldier, patriot and politician, was born in the last quarter of the 19th century and lived his adult life in the first half of the 20th century. His life was book-ended by two world wars. His experiences, opinions and observations are captured in documents preserved in the McGill University Archives, in his numerous publications and in media coverage. As an officer on leave from his faculty position at McGill, he led the McGill University 7th Artillery Battery in France in WWI. His was a life lived during war, a pandemic, the Great Depression, rapid technological developments, social upheaval and Canada’s emergence as a nation. In rural Prince Edward Island, MacMillan received a classical Scottish early education. This was later broadened by post graduate education at both McGill and Harvard Universities, where his interest in folk literature and drama were expanded. His scholarly focus on folk songs, stories, and myths as a foundation for a uniquely Canadian literary canon are worthy of re-examination, especially in a post-colonial world where indigenous peoples are reclaiming their stories and songs. As a federal Cabinet and Privy Council member and MP for Queen’s County in PEI, he supported Prime Minister MacKenzie King during WWII as Parliamentary Secretary for Air Defence. MacMillan retired from McGill University in 1947 and was awarded an honorary doctorate as thanks for his service to the University and to the nation. Not always the primary person in many of the dramatic events in which he participated, MacMillan was a keen observer and recorder of those events. His biography makes an important contribution to our understanding of the man, his work, and his time."-- Provided by publisher
Print Book, English, 2023
Penumbra Press, [Newcastle, Ontario], 2023