Rhymes of a Western Logger
The Collected Poems of Robert Swanson
Will be published approx. on 13. February 1992
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-1-55017-066-5 (ISBN)
Description
These rollicking ballads and poems come from the great oral tradition of BC woodsmen during the first half of this century - when real men not only read poetry but wrote it and recited it and bought it.
Robert Swanson, once known as the "Bard of the Woods," is one of many men who knows and loves BC coast bunkhouse ballads, but he is one of a very few who has written them down. In the 1940s, when he was a forestry safety inspector travelling from camp to camp, he was also selling his little books, which sold some 80,000 copies in all. Now the complete works are back again, in one attractive volume.
Robert Swanson, once known as the "Bard of the Woods," is one of many men who knows and loves BC coast bunkhouse ballads, but he is one of a very few who has written them down. In the 1940s, when he was a forestry safety inspector travelling from camp to camp, he was also selling his little books, which sold some 80,000 copies in all. Now the complete works are back again, in one attractive volume.
More details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
British Columbia
Canada
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
272 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-55017-066-5 (9781550170665)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Robert Swanson (1905-1994) worked for years as a logger, then as a forestry safety inspector for the government. A special horn Swanson invented for trains was adapted for use all over the world, and he also pioneered the development of air brakes on logging trucks. His expertise on steam trains and their whistles was central to the restoration of BC's popular Royal Hudson excursion train, and visitors to Vancouver will recognize his handiwork in Gastown's steam clock.
However, to his legions of fans Swanson will always be known as the "Bard of the Woods." During his forestry career he went to every logging camp and mill operation on the coast and spent long evenings bull slinging with the legends of logging. He started writing down their stories and ballads in the 1930s, and in the process he became one of BC's bestselling poets. A new edition of his collected bunkhouse ballads, Rhymes of a Western Logger, was published in 1992.
However, to his legions of fans Swanson will always be known as the "Bard of the Woods." During his forestry career he went to every logging camp and mill operation on the coast and spent long evenings bull slinging with the legends of logging. He started writing down their stories and ballads in the 1930s, and in the process he became one of BC's bestselling poets. A new edition of his collected bunkhouse ballads, Rhymes of a Western Logger, was published in 1992.