James Houston (1) (1921–2005)

James Houston lived a most interesting life but until about 10 years ago I had never heard of him and certainly did not know his pivotal role in introducing Inuit art to the outside world. I first learned about him by picking up several of his works of fiction and when I read them I was intrigued enough to look up more information about him. He lived in the Eastern Arctic, specifically Baffin Island, for twelve years during which time he married. His wife and his two sons lived in the Arctic show more with him much of the time.

This book starts with Houston's first trip to the Arctic. He was staying in Moose Factory and a pilot offered him a free ride to the eastern side of Hudson's Bay with him and a doctor. From that first visit Houston knew he wanted to live in the Arctic and he started finding a way to do so. An artist who had trained with Arthur Lismer, Houston started doing sketches of the Inuit with whom he spent time. When he gave these sketches to the subjects they in turn gave him small carved sculptures that they had made. Houston showed them to people at the Canadian Handicrafts Guild in Montreal they recognized the artistry. Houston arranged to go back north and trade for more sculptures which the Guild would then sell. The Inuit did not use money at the time so Houston gave them items like rifles and cloth that they could use. Later he arranged that they would be given vouchers that they could turn in at the Hudson's Bay Company stores for products that they wanted. As the Inuit gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in villages their ability to earn money by creating art meant they were not reliant on government handouts. Houston made many friends among the Inuit and often went on hunting trips with them. As the title suggests on these trips they built igloos and stayed in them. Houston's descriptions of survival on the land are fascinating. He left the north on his own volition after ensuring that the artistic endeavours were established and that they would be maintained by the Inuit. After living in the far north it is almost beyond belief that he would take up living in New York City as a designer for Steuben Glass. That portion of his life is documented in his next memoir, Zigzag. show less

This is the second book by James Houston that I have read and I have really enjoyed both of them. In this book a young Scottish man, William, ends up indentured to the Hudson's Bay Company and because he can read, write and calculate he is sent as a clerk to York Factory. Soon after his arrival a young Dene woman is brought to the fort by local Cree who found her at their hunting camp. Thana and her cousin were kidnapped from her family's encampment by a vicious man from a rival tribe, the show more Wood Cats. They managed to get away from him but her cousin drowned and Thana barely survived. William has a gift for learning languages so the Governor asks him to learn Dene from Thana. As they work together learning each other's language William and Thana fall in love. So wehn the Governor suggests that the two of them and some Cree "run west" to Thana's native land they are quite happy to do so. The Governor's aim is to find the source of gold and copper that the Dene are known to possess. There are plenty of hardships on their journey and that had me reading late into the night.

Houston really captures the lifestyle of the fur traders and their native contacts. He spent many years in the Arctic and brought Inuit art to the attention of the rest of the world. According to his obituary in the New York Times he travelled with the Inuit and lived as they did. This book has exquisite little drawings sprinkled through it done by Houston who was also an acclaimed artist. show less

What a great story teller!! I so enjoyed reading The Ice Master; a tale of old time whaling and 2 captains - one old, one new. With just enough descriptive detail to build a clear picture of the landscape and its' peoples, Houston's novel is a great telling of a piece of Canadian history. I will definately keep this book in my library, in order to read it again.

I'm into anything James Houston has written. Such a great outdoor-adventure storyteller.