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Timothy Findley Biography |
Timothy Findley (October 30, 1930 - June 20, 2002) was a Canadian novelist and playwright, who was one of Canada's most famous writers.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Findley was raised in the upper class Rosedale district of the city. He pursued a career in the arts, studying dance and acting, and had significant success as an actor before turning to writing.
His first two novels, The Last of the Crazy People (1967) and The Butterfly Plague (1969), were rejected by Canadian publishers and were eventually published in Britain. Published to great critical acclaim, Findley's third novel The Wars went on to win the Governor General's Award for fiction and was adapted for film in 1981.
Timothy Findley received a Governor General's Award, the Canadian Authors Association Award, an ACTRA Award, the Order of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Award, and he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was a founding member and chair of the Writers' Union of Canada, and a president of the Canadian chapter of PEN International.
His writing was heavily influenced by Jungian psychology, and mental illness, gender and sexuality were frequent recurring themes in his work. His characters often carried dark personal secrets, and were often conflicted -- sometimes to the point of psychosis -- by these burdens.
He resided in rural Ontario and the south of France with his partner, William Whitehead. He was honoured by the French Government, who declared him a "Chevalier de l'ordre des arts et des lettres".
Timothy Findley died in France.
Works by Timothy Findley
The Last of the Crazy People (1967)
The Butterfly Plague (1969)
The Wars (1977), translated into French as Guerres
Famous Last Words (1981), translated into French as Le Grand Elysium Hôtel
Dinner Along the Amazon (1984, short fiction)
Not Wanted on the Voyage (1986)
The Telling of Lies (1986), winner of the prestigious Edgar Award for mystery writing.
Stones (1988, short fiction)
Inside Memory (1990, memoir)
Headhunter (1993)
The Piano Man's Daughter (1995), his bestselling novel
You Went Away (1996, novella)
Dust to Dust (1997, short fiction)
From Stone Orchard (1998, memoir)
Pilgrim (1999)
Spadework (2001)
Timothy Findley has also written numerous scripts for film and television and is also the author of a number of plays including Can You See Me Yet? (1974), The Stillborn Lover (1993). Elizabeth Rex (2000), his most successful play yet, premiered at the Stratford Festival to rave reviews. Findley followed this up with the play Shadows in 2001. |
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