Anne Cimon Books

Susanna Moodie: Pioneer Author
(The Quest Library; 28).*
Montreal, PQ: XYZ Publishing, 2006.
ISBN 978-1-894852-19-7
156 pp., pbk., $17.95

*The Quest Series was sold by XYZ Publishing to Dundurn Press in December 2007: this book is thus now being marketed and sold by Dundurn.

Subject Headings:
Moodie, Susanna, 1803-1885.
Frontier and pioneer life-Ontario.
Ontario-Social life and customs-19th century.
Authors, Canadian (English)-19th century-Biography.

Susanna was now passionate about something too, though it didn't exude any whiff of royalty. Her favourite subject was her own experience as a pioneer in the bush. She had written "Canadian Sketches" with such plain titles as "A Visit to Grosse Isle" and "First Impressions, Quebec." They appeared in the Victoria Magazine and in the Literary Garland. She has kept all her writings about the bush ordeal, and John encouraged her to use them for a book. Why not? Hadn't Catherine published her early letters to England in The Backwoods of Canada?

My book, Susanna reflected, will have a completely different point of view from Catherine's: it will be a warning to the British people who want to become pioneers, not a cheerful book at all.

Anne Cimon's biography about Susanna Moodie's life and writings begins with a description of Moodie's childhood and proceeds to discuss different elements in her life including her education, her marriage, and, of course, her trials moving to Upper Canada and becoming a pioneer.

This biography highlights Moodie's writings and attitudes towards immigrating to a new country. Although Moodie was already a published author when she immigrated to Upper Canada, Roughing It in the Bush is her most known work. This book depicts the experience of a Canadian pioneer and provides an insight into society at the time.

What make Cimon's book so intriguing is the inclusion of numerous photographs of Moodie's family and members of her community as well as paintings both of settings related to her experiences and a still life painting by Moodie, herself. As well, there is a detailed chronology of Moodie's life alongside a timeline for Canada and the world. These chronologies would be helpful in a social studies class as they add perspectives on what was happening around the world during Moodie's life. More importantly, however, Cimon incorporated Moodie's writing into the text as if it is Moodie's internal thoughts on what is going on around her in Upper Canada. This adds an intriguing dimension to Cimon's work and expands the book by offering a new insight into Moodie's writings and experiences.

This book would work well in a social studies classroom. The language is simple, and the reading is enjoyable and educational. The photographs and paintings also allow the reader to imagine what life was like for Moodie during this important time in Canadian history.

Geneviève M.Y. Valleau is currently enrolled in the Master's of Arts programme in Children's Literature at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC.

An Angel Around the Corner/
Un ange autour du coin
(Borealis Press, 2004)
ISBN 0-88887-229-1
$15.95

An Angel around the Corner/Un ange autour du coin is Anne Cimon´s fourth book of poetry and it shines with the strength and clarity that comes from an honest confrontation with loss and grief. The collection continues to define the spiritual progress of a contemporary woman. Reminiscent of Jack Kerouac´s "desolation angels", these poems attest to the power of friendship and love.

All We Need/
Tout ce qu'il faut
(Borealis Press, 2002)
ISBN 0-88887-206-2
$15.95

Of All We Need/Tout ce qu´il faut, poet Harold Rhenisch remarked: "These free verse poems are sweet, but not cloying, simple, but not simplistic, devotional, but not dogmatic, human, but not humanistic, and very quietly lyrical. The French versions are musical and flowing. The English versions are simple dances whispered under the breath."

No Country for Women
(Mosaic Press, 1993)
ISBN 0-88962-559-X
$12.95

"Anne Cimon´s poetry is bold, lyrical, evocative, touching on a gamut of themes from loss of self to nature to love."