Dictionary of Newfoundland and Labrador Biography

R.G. Moyles is a professor of English at the University of Alberta,
co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities: British Views of
Canada, 1880-1914, and co-editor of The Collected Works of E.J. Pratt.

As the foreword states, this dictionary “provide[s] some basic
reference information on approximately 1500 individuals who have
influenced the development of Newfoundland and Labrador as a colony,
country, and province, since the European re-discovery of North America
in 1497.” That admirable—though somewhat daunting—undertaking has
been carried out with meticulous care, and the result is wholly
satisfying. From John Cabot to Joey Smallwood, we are presented with an
alphabetical series of biographical portraits that vivify the humanity
behind Newfoundland’s special history and character. Each portrait,
ranging from the very brief (for someone like John Lake) to several
paragraphs (for someone like Gordon Pinsent), is succinctly
comprehensive and clearly set forth. Indeed, the layout, design, and
typographical clarity of the whole book is quite impressive.

One small cause for dissatisfaction: the editors have decided to omit
many individuals who “were born in Newfoundland and Labrador, but
built their careers abroad” (with the exception of a few, like E.J.
Pratt and Robert Joy). That is a pity, for many of these people have
enlarged the world’s consciousness of Newfoundland by their efforts
abroad; they deserve recognition as much as some of the
non-Newfoundlanders included (such as Marconi and Bonnycastle) and
certainly as much as some of the minor resident-Newfoundlanders. That
aside, this book is excellent in every way. It will be very useful both
to students and to scholars, and will reward even the casual reader.