Ken McGoogan
Encyclopedia
Ken McGoogan is the Canadian
author of eight books, including four biographies focusing on northern exploration and published internationally: Fatal Passage (John Rae
), Ancient Mariner (Samuel Hearne
), Lady Franklin's Revenge (Jane Franklin
), and Race to the Polar Sea (Elisha Kent Kane).
Born in Montreal
(1947) and raised in a francophone town, McGoogan has traveled widely, both in Canada and abroad. After attending Sir George Williams University, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Ryerson
and a master's degree in creative writing at the University of British Columbia
.
For two decades, while producing three novels, McGoogan earned his living as a journalist and literary editor, working at The Toronto Star, The Montreal Star, and The Calgary Herald. He has since served as a writer-in-residence at Toronto Public Library
, and in Fredericton, Dawson City, and Hobart, Tasmania. For the Writers' Union of Canada
, he has conducted professional development workshops from Atlantic Canada to the Yukon, and he currently teaches writing at University of Toronto (Continuing Studies).
, the Canadian Authors' Association History Award, the Grant MacEwan Author's Award, a University of Cambridge fellowship, an American Christopher Award
, the 2006 Pierre Berton
Award (for a body of work, and the University of British Columbia
medal for Canadian biography (Lady Franklin's Revenge).
Lady Franklin's Revenge
: A True Story of Ambition, Obsession and the Remaking of Arctic History. 2005.
Ancient Mariner: The Amazing Adventures of Samuel Hearne, the Sailor Who
Walked to the Arctic Ocean. 2003.
Fatal Passage
: The Untold Story of John Rae, the Arctic Adventurer Who Discovered the Fate of Franklin. 2001.
Visions of Kerouac: Satori Magic Edition. 2007.
Chasing Safiya. 1999.
Calypso Warrior. 1995.
Canada's Undeclared War: Fighting Words from the Literary Trenches.1991.
Going For Gold. Co-author with Catriona Le May Doan. 2002.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author of eight books, including four biographies focusing on northern exploration and published internationally: Fatal Passage (John Rae
John Rae (explorer)
John Rae was a Scottish doctor who explored Northern Canada, surveyed parts of the Northwest Passage and reported the fate of the Franklin Expedition....
), Ancient Mariner (Samuel Hearne
Samuel Hearne
Samuel Hearne was a an English explorer, fur-trader, author, and naturalist. He was the first European to make an overland excursion across northern Canada to the Arctic Ocean, actually Coronation Gulf, via the Coppermine River...
), Lady Franklin's Revenge (Jane Franklin
Jane Franklin
Jane, Lady Franklin was an early Tasmanian pioneer, traveller and second wife of the explorer John Franklin....
), and Race to the Polar Sea (Elisha Kent Kane).
Born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(1947) and raised in a francophone town, McGoogan has traveled widely, both in Canada and abroad. After attending Sir George Williams University, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Ryerson
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
and a master's degree in creative writing at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
For two decades, while producing three novels, McGoogan earned his living as a journalist and literary editor, working at The Toronto Star, The Montreal Star, and The Calgary Herald. He has since served as a writer-in-residence at Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is a public library system based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public library system in Canada and in 2008, had averaged a higher...
, and in Fredericton, Dawson City, and Hobart, Tasmania. For the Writers' Union of Canada
Writers' Union of Canada
The Writers' Union of Canada , founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book through a commercial publisher.The Union addresses...
, he has conducted professional development workshops from Atlantic Canada to the Yukon, and he currently teaches writing at University of Toronto (Continuing Studies).
Awards
McGoogan, has won the Drainie-Taylor Biography PrizeDrainie-Taylor Biography Prize
The Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize is a Canadian literary award, presented annually by the Writers' Trust of Canada for the best work of biography, autobiography, or personal memoir....
, the Canadian Authors' Association History Award, the Grant MacEwan Author's Award, a University of Cambridge fellowship, an American Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
, the 2006 Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
Award (for a body of work, and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
medal for Canadian biography (Lady Franklin's Revenge).
Selected works
Race to the Polar Sea: The Heroic Adventures of Elisha Kent KaneLady Franklin's Revenge
Lady Franklin's Revenge
Lady Franklin's Revenge: A True Story of Ambition, Obsession and the Remaking of Arctic History is a non-fiction book by Canadian historian and writer Ken McGoogan...
: A True Story of Ambition, Obsession and the Remaking of Arctic History. 2005.
Ancient Mariner: The Amazing Adventures of Samuel Hearne, the Sailor Who
Walked to the Arctic Ocean. 2003.
Fatal Passage
Fatal Passage
Fatal Passage: The Untold Story of John Rae, the Arctic Adventurer Who Discovered the Fate of Franklin is a book by Canadian historian and writer Ken McGoogan. It was first published in 2001.- Synopsis :...
: The Untold Story of John Rae, the Arctic Adventurer Who Discovered the Fate of Franklin. 2001.
Visions of Kerouac: Satori Magic Edition. 2007.
Chasing Safiya. 1999.
Calypso Warrior. 1995.
Canada's Undeclared War: Fighting Words from the Literary Trenches.1991.
Going For Gold. Co-author with Catriona Le May Doan. 2002.