As for Sinclair Ross

Naomi Brun is a freelance writer and a book reviewer for The Hamilton
Spectator.

In 1941, a quiet little book about a minister on the prairies made its
first appearance in bookstores across the country. Having recently
recovered from the Great Depression, Canadians were not inclined to read
about the struggles of a poor, downtrodden clergyman in a dustbowl
village. Sales of the novel were initially poor, but several critics
raved about its elegant prose, modern style, and forthright messages
about the prejudiced kind of society that Canadians were creating. As
for Me and My House was an uncomfortable but important book that would
eventually prove to be one of the most influential in this country’s
canon.

In As for Sinclair Ross, David Stouck takes a look at the man who wrote
the right book at the wrong time. Ironically, Ross, who was awarded the
Order of Canada for As for Me and My House, deemed himself a failure as
a writer. Stouck’s personal observations combine with his meticulous
research to present as thorough an understanding of James Sinclair Ross
as possible. Using As for Me and My House as a motif throughout this
wonderfully written biography, Stouck sheds a great deal of light on the
connections between the writer and his greatest work without
overstretching the limits of professionalism.

Essentially, Stouck’s Ross learned to be both guarded and quiet
during his tumultuous childhood on the prairie. Although this reticence
kept him out of harm’s way as a boy, it ultimately stood in the way of
unquestionable literary success, for he never allowed himself to become
comfortable with life in the limelight.

As for Sinclair Ross is a highly readable, studied, and sensitive
exploration of a prominent Canadian author.