author
William Kirby
1817–1906
Best known for the classic historical novel The Golden Dog, this English-born Canadian writer helped shape early Canadian literature through fiction, journalism, and public service. His work is remembered for bringing the history of Quebec and Niagara vividly to life.
1 Audiobook
The Golden Dog
by William Kirby
About the author
Born in Kingston upon Hull, England, on October 13, 1817, he moved with his family to the United States in 1832 and settled in Niagara in 1839. Over the course of his life, he worked in several roles, including journalist, teacher, public servant, and editor of the Niagara Mail.
He is most closely associated with The Golden Dog (1877), a historical novel set in old Quebec that became a classic of Canadian literature. He also wrote poetry and shorter prose, but that novel remains the work for which he is best known.
He spent much of his adult life in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where he became an important figure in local cultural life. He died there on June 23, 1906, leaving behind a reputation as one of the notable early voices in Canadian writing.