Terry (book)
Encyclopedia
Terry is a pictorial biography
of Terry Fox
written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland
in 2005 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fox's death in 1981.
’s Souvenir of Canada
projects. Succinct narrative sections frame some 150 photographs, many of which are previously-unpublished images and memorabilia from the Fox family archives. The book presents Fox’s life, his Marathon of Hope, and his immediate and continuing resonance with the Canadian public. Coupland donates the full royalties from the book to the Terry Fox Foundation in support of cancer research.
as its artistic model. Coupland applies an economy of narrative to give the images, letters, and photography an increased biographical force. Arranged into brief sections that each service two or three pages of photography, Coupland’s narrative presents Fox as an unexceptional suburban Canadian accomplishing an exceptional thing. This artistic decision allows Coupland to demonstrate, at times explicitly, that Fox's heroism is similarly available to any otherwise ordinary person.
Terry endures as a public window into the relics and memorabilia of the Marathon of Hope which Coupland sifted through by the thousands for the items formed into the completed book.
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist. His fiction is complemented by recognized works in design and visual art arising from his early formal training. His first novel, the 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularized terms such as McJob and...
in 2005 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fox's death in 1981.
Overview
Written with the support of the Fox family, Terry reflects the minimalist style of Douglas CouplandDouglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist. His fiction is complemented by recognized works in design and visual art arising from his early formal training. His first novel, the 1991 international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, popularized terms such as McJob and...
’s Souvenir of Canada
Souvenir of Canada
Souvenir of Canada is a 2002 book written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland. A feature film based on the book was released theatrically in 2006....
projects. Succinct narrative sections frame some 150 photographs, many of which are previously-unpublished images and memorabilia from the Fox family archives. The book presents Fox’s life, his Marathon of Hope, and his immediate and continuing resonance with the Canadian public. Coupland donates the full royalties from the book to the Terry Fox Foundation in support of cancer research.
Structure
Terry is arranged as a pictorial record of the life and influence of Terry Fox, using the family album or scrapbookScrapbooking
Scrapbooking is a method for preserving personal and family history in the form of a scrapbook. Typical memorabilia include photographs, printed media, and artwork. Scrapbook albums are often decorated and frequently contain extensive journaling...
as its artistic model. Coupland applies an economy of narrative to give the images, letters, and photography an increased biographical force. Arranged into brief sections that each service two or three pages of photography, Coupland’s narrative presents Fox as an unexceptional suburban Canadian accomplishing an exceptional thing. This artistic decision allows Coupland to demonstrate, at times explicitly, that Fox's heroism is similarly available to any otherwise ordinary person.
Coda
In addition to the funds that it raised for the Terry Fox Foundation, Coupland’s book contributed to the sustained memory and public legacy of the athlete and humanitarian. It is, for instance, credited with having led to the discovery of the van, a 1980 Ford Econoline, in which Fox and his brother lived during the cross-Canada marathon.Terry endures as a public window into the relics and memorabilia of the Marathon of Hope which Coupland sifted through by the thousands for the items formed into the completed book.