author
Kathleen Macfarlane Lizars
d. 1931
A Canadian writer and historian, she helped bring early Ontario history to life through vivid accounts of settlement, rebellion, and everyday experience. Her books, often written with her sister Robina, turn local history into lively storytelling.
1 Audiobook
Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim: Rebellion Times in the Canadas
by Robina Lizars, Kathleen Macfarlane Lizars
About the author
Born in 1863, Kathleen Macfarlane Lizars was a Canadian author best remembered for writing about Ontario's past. Records connected with her family identify her as the daughter of Judge Daniel Home Lizars, and standard library and catalog sources place her life from 1863 to 1931.
She is closely associated with historical works such as Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim: Rebellion Times in the Canadas, entered in 1897 under her name, and The Valley of the Humber, 1615–1913. She also collaborated with her sister Robina Lizars on In the Days of the Canada Company, a substantial account of settlement in the Huron Tract.
Her writing focused on Canadian history, especially the people, conflicts, and social life of nineteenth-century Ontario. Even now, her books stand out for making regional history feel personal and readable rather than distant or dry.