Michael Kluckner reveals Julia Henshaw in word and image

Michael Kluckner's graphic history book is one more proof of his artistic versatility. Filled with wonderful drawings, it captures the past of one of Vancouver's interesting characters. With his usual verve, Kluckner reveals Julia Henshaw as a smart woman ahead of her times: a novelist, journalist, naturalist and mountain climber. One of many archival newspaper tidbits that surprised me: Canadian Authors, formed in 1921, was active in the west by 1926, when Julia and fellow scribes met in Caulfeild.

Full of lively contradictions, she was also a crack shot, a supporter of women's rights who spoke against giving votes to women. A pro-British Conservative, she overcame her anti-Americanism enough to form a close friendship with an American naturalist from Philadelphia. She was a snob, but she was thoughtful and courageous too, willing to express her evolving views on women's suffrage in print. Her work as a volunteer ambulance driver proved her physical courage.

Sharply imagined dialogue and artistic-authorial intrusions lend credence and humour to this well-told history. I adored the imaginary but eminently believable comments by a pre-WWII Churchill. Some examples  of the author's conversations with Mrs. Henshaw's ghost are seen below. These drawings showcase the sensibility and inventive intellect of this wonderfully original historian. Michael Kluckner was the guest presenter of Canadian Authors--Metro Vancouver at WORD 2018.