Esteemed author Peter C. Newman appeared before an almost full house at Sechelt's Rockwood Pavilion last Saturday night. He began his talk with a lesson in the art of writing. It's not about the dollars, he said, or the glory, but about the reader.
"To write is to feel, not to think," he said. "You must feel passion for your subject." As he related snippets from his fascinating life, it was easy to determine just which subjects stir his own passions.They included an account of his wealthy family fleeing Czechoslovakia in 1938, where his father had owned a sugar beet plant. The Jewish family converted to Catholicism and became one of only seven Jewish families to be admitted to Canada during wartime under its intolerant immigration policies.
On arrival in this country, Newman spoke Czech and German. He was enrolled in the very establishment Upper Canada College to give him immersion in the English language.
As a new, avid Canadian, he later enlisted in the Navy and told the audience vivid stories of those years. His life is the subject of his latest book, Here Be Dragons: Telling Tales of People, Passion and Power (McClelland & Stewart).
His career in journalism led him to the position of editor-in-chief for the Toronto Star and the newsmagazine Maclean's, earning him a lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation. He is an Officer and Companion of the Order of Canada and has written 20 books - many of them revealing the secrets of those who wield money and power. Newman's own tales were as riveting as the expected stories about politicians and influential, monied Canadians, though one had the feeling he could have told stories for half the night about Conrad Black and Barbara Amiel. He glossed over former Canadian prime ministers and chose to describe one of our more colourful leaders, Pierre Trudeau, whom he had come to know personally. In later years, Newman was to write that the man had an "icicle for a heart."
Newman's comments on Paul Martin were amusing. Comparing Martin to the bumbling Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther films, Newman said, "He's still running for office instead of governing. He has no idea. He just gets out of jams."
During question period, Newman acknowledged that history would probably record that thinker, teacher and media savant Marshall McLuhan was actually the greatest Canadian.
The event was an early kick-off to this year's Festival of the Written Arts Aug. 11 to 14. Newman appeared at the festival years ago when he delivered the first Bruce Hutchison lecture but begged off this time because August is when he enjoys another passion: sailing.
This year's festival goes ahead with 23 authors, many of them notable in Canada's literary scene.
Playwright and director Morris Panych takes opening night Aug. 11; popular garden author Des Kennedy appears on Friday morning. Award winning writer John Gould (who once lived on the Coast) reads on Saturday, and Giller Prize nominee Pauline Holdstock reads on Sunday morning. This year's Hutchison lecture is given by former Reform Party MP Deborah Grey. On Sunday is this year's hot ticket, Giller Prize winner M.G. Vassanji, so far the only sold-out show. Festival producer Gail Bull advises other authors soon to be sold out are: Panych, Rafe Mair, DJ Red Robinson, Grey and musician/comedian Todd Butler. For tickets, phone 604-885-9631.
