Outport People

"The Outport People" marks the publishing debut of Claire Mowat, whose husband Farley has written some of the best-loved stories in Canadian literature ("The Dog Who Wouldn't Be", "Never Cry Wolf"). It is her tribute to the rugged, proud Newfoundlanders whose world revolved around family and community until the modern age tore it apart. Newfoundland outports are coastal communities whose economic mainstay is usually fishing. Until recently many of them could only be reached via boat, as the rocky landscape hindered road construction for years. Their isolation was deepened by the absence of telephones and television. With no easy access to the outside world, outport residents became an independent, earthy people who were fiercely loyal to their family and friends. During the 1960s the Mowats moved to Burgeo, a village on Newfoundland's south coast. They remained for five years, and grew to love the land and the people so much that on the day they left, Claire Mowat remembered that "the salt spray blew steadily in my face, mixing with my tears." Although Mowat describes "The Outport People" as a `fictional memoir', it's as detailed as a sociological study, and just as true to life: the characters, with their archaic speech, ancient customs, and friendly wariness toward newcomers and new ideas, are typical of what you will see in remote parts of Newfoundland even today. The library in the imaginary town of Baleena is open only six hours a week, winter weddings are the rule because too many men leave during the summer to work on Great Lakes freighters, and the local shopkeeper runs his general store out of his living room. There's no plot to speak of, but Mowat compensates by vividly describing the joys and struggles of a tradition-bound community facing extinction. Under the guise of writing fiction, she remembers her years in Burgeo with fondness, humour, and respect.

Having left Newfoundland almost 15 years ago this book is giving me a glimpse into a gone by era that I only had an inkling off when I lived back home. Claire Mowat aptly describes so many customs and nuances of outport Newfoundland life that would otherwise would only be learned from a sociology class. Wonderful reading. Makes me homesick !

This is one of the greatest books I have ever read! It is a memoir abbout Claire Mowat's life in "Baleena" Nfld, Baleena is actually Burgeo,Nfld. Claire Mowat spent some years here in the 1950's and it is a great in-sight into Outport Nfld. It is a truly great book.