Northwest Passage

by Stan Rogers

Overview

Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustration

Award-winning artist Matt James takes the iconic song "Northwest Passage" by legendary Canadian songwriter and singer Stan Rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations, explorers and commercial interests have dreamt of conquering, often with tragic consequences.

For hundreds of years explorers attempted to find the Northwest Passage - a route through Canada's northern waters to the Pacific Ocean and Asia. Others attempted to find a land route. Many hundreds of men perished in the attempt, until finally, in 1906, Roald Amundsen completed the voyage by ship. Today global warming has brought interest in the passage back to a fever pitch as nations contend with each other over its control and future uses.

The historic search inspired Canadian folk musician Stan Rogers to write "Northwest Passage", a song that has become a widely known favorite since its 1981 release. It describes Stan's own journey overland as he contemplates the arduous journeys of some of the explorers, including Kelsey, Mackenzie, Thompson and especially Franklin. The song is moving and haunting, a paean to the adventurous spirit of the explorers and to the beauty of the vast land and icy seas.

The lyrics are accompanied by the striking paintings of multiple award-winning artist Matt James. Matt brings a unique vision to the song and the history behind it, providing commentary on the Franklin expedition and its failure to heed the wisdom of Inuit living in the North. The book also contains the music for the song (as well as a final verse that was never recorded), maps, a timeline of Arctic exploration, mini-biographies and portraits of the principal explorers, and suggestions for further reading.

Following on the success of Canadian Railroad Trilogy, this is another beautiful book in which a memorable song illuminates a fascinating history that has taken on new resonance today.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/30/2012
Label:	The Borealis / Borealis Records
UPC:	0773958121720
Rank:	38921

Tracks

1. Northwest Passage
2. The Field Behind the Plow
3. Night Guard
4. Working Joe
5. You Can't Stay Here
6. The Idiot
7. Lies
8. Canol Road
9. Free In the Harbour
10. Calilfornia

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stan Rogers   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String)
David Alan Eadie   Penny Whistle,Guitar (Bass),Vocals
Curly Stubbs   Guitar (Tenor),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar
David Eadie   Bass,Vocals,Penny Whistle
Frank Carth   Steel Pan
Claude Desjardins   Drums,Percussion
Garnet Rogers   Viola,Guitar,Violin,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Chris Crilly   Piano,Violin,Vocals
Frank "Pineapple Frank" Barth   Lap Steel Guitar,Pedal Steel
Danny Greenspoon   Guitar (Electric),Guitar
Michael Francis   Guitar

Technical Credits

Paul Mills   Audio Production,Producer,Mixing
Declan O'Doherty   Engineer,Mixing
Valerie Rogers   Executive Producer
Stan Rogers   Arranger,Composer
Garnet Rogers   Arranger,Composer
Chris Crilly   Composer
David Alan Eadie   Composer

Editorial Reviews

This is a dynamic and original introduction to the age of exploration.

Library Media Connections

[T]he sweep of James’s paintings is spectacular; the invitation to 'make a Northwest Passage to the sea,' irresistible.

Horn Book

Praise for I Know Here:
"[S]imple and profound." — The New York Times



Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustration
A Kirkus Best Book
Finalist for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award

"This stunning portrayal of early efforts to explore Canada’s Northwest Passage presents Rogers’ 1981 song in combination with glorious illustrations . . . Both realistic and allusive, these images are as haunting as the song." — Kirkus, starred review

"For a unique and exquisite view of the story of explorers’ search for a safe passage through the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific, look no further than this beautifully crafted title inspired by a well-known Canadian folk song." — School Library Journal, starred review

"[T]he sweep of James’s paintings is spectacular; the invitation to 'make a Northwest Passage to the sea,' irresistible." — Horn Book

"This is a dynamic and original introduction to the age of exploration." — Library Media Connections

From the Publisher

★ 2013-09-01
This stunning portrayal of early efforts to explore Canada's Northwest Passage presents Rogers' 1981 song in combination with glorious illustrations, historical commentary and a gallery of explorers. Called Canada's "other national anthem" by a former prime minister, Rogers' well-known lyrics describe Sir John Franklin's disastrous expedition of the 1840s, comparing it with the singer's own travels across the country. Franklin's ships became icebound. His men disappeared and may have resorted to cannibalism before starving to death. Nevertheless, the English explorer has been honored as the discoverer of the Northwest Passage. Today, with the ice diminished and Canada and other Arctic countries looking forward to a year-round shipping route, this history has become even more relevant. James supplies a timeline of exploration and an account of this failed journey that explain Rogers' allusions, and, more strikingly, he illustrates the song's various threads. With bold acrylic strokes and India-ink outlines, he paints scenes from the historical journey as well as the singer's more modern one. Deep blues and whites predominate, and there is a sense of desolation. Oversized double-page spreads sometimes meld the explorers' experiences with Rogers' own. Panels depict the historical episodes. Both realistic and allusive, these images are as haunting as the song. For U.S. readers, an illumination of a little-known history; for all Americans, a treasure. (words and music, sources) (Informational picture book. 8 & up)

Kirkus Reviews