Frank D. Underhill: Intellectual Provocateur

Susanne Day is a retired education specialist whose focus was physically
challenged, blind, and speech-impaired children.

For those who have never heard of Frank H. Underhill or only know of him from the bad press he acquired during the forties this book will hold a few surprises. The man whom politicians, newspaper writers, and writers of letters to the editor and indeed the president of his own university wanted dismissed from his position at the University of Toronto because of his radical political views and subversive thinking, is seen here as a seeker who never truly found his goal.

A shy and uncertain boy, he relied heavily on parental support throughout his many years of study. They even sold their home in Unionville to make a home for Frank in Toronto. His years at Oxford, supported by his parents, were successful academically but did very little to broaden his social outlook. For one who would later be labelled “subversive” it is interesting to read he served his King and country well during World War I.

In this biography he is portrayed as a brilliant scholar, a fine teacher, respected and admired by his students, a man on the edge of politics whose writings were enthusiastically received by many while being denounced by many more. His private life is a successful love story, his academic life full of tumult, disappointments and successes. In the final years of his long life he was hailed as a great Canadian, teacher, and human being whose influence was remarkable over those he taught and who made an important contribution to Canadian life.