The following review will focus on “The Secret Lives of Sgt John Wilson”, written by Louis Simmie. This review will elaborate on three particular components. Firstly, Louis Simmie’s purpose inn writing “The Secret Lives of Sg.t John Wilson” was to provide an accurate depiction of Saskatchewan history. Secondly, this review will ascertain whether the book “The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson is of any monetary value. Lastly this review will discuss whether the author Lois Simmie accomplished her overall goal in writing “The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson” Louis Simmie utilizes an autobiography style of writing to depict our Saskatchewan history. Even in the prologue the author Louis Simmie engages the reader in the life of Sgt John Wilson and foreshadows the upcoming events without revealing the plot in the beginning. In the subsequent chapters the author uses …show more content…
journals and letters as a strategy to revert the reader to the past, making the book a believable piece of Canadian history. In this autobiography the sequence of events is of pivotal importance. The author uses dates such as when Simmie writes “war was declared on August 4, 19, 14(19). These dates appear factual thus appearing as a chronological depiction of history. The use of Dates, times, places allows the reader to believe the book is an authentic piece of our Saskatchewan heritage. It is difficult to put a monetary value on heritage and history.
Many items, including book are often hard to appraise or many be invaluable, the book “The secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson costs $21.95. IT is difficult to purchase anything in today’s economy for this price. This book has never made it to the movies if it had I would expect it to be worth a lot more. Just on the fact alone that this book is based on a true story is a seller alone. This book should be a number one best seller getting five star reviews. The publicity of this book was nowhere near enough. With more publicity the author probably could’ve sold more copies and lower the price interesting even more buyers. The book should have as much publicity as “Don Quixote”. Because the more people that read a book or film the more a book is worth purchasing. Then you can talk to everybody about the book your reading and other people can join in on the subject with you. Since the book is a book in the schools definitely means it’s a worthwhile buy. Lots of people have read it and it’s a great topic to start or continue conversation
with. Just from the books standpoint, the author gets her goal across easily explaining how Mrs. and Mr. Wilson meet their end also how the jury closes the life on John. Louis also nails the sub purpose of the book by entertaining the reader with dialogue when deemed necessary. The lower level reader all the way to the university prof can enjoy this book. Purely accommodated for brilliancy. This is a very well written book. All of the goals of Louis get achieved through her writing. The writing is fluent and strong with lots of details made making this an even more purposeful autobiography. The story has made a success with the story of love and murder in a one of a kind true crime. Author gets her goal across easily explaining how Mrs. and Mr. Wilson meet their end also how the jury closes the life of John. Louis also nails the sub purpose of the book by entertaining the reader with dialogue when deemed necessary. The lower level reader all the way to the university prof can enjoy this book. Purely accommodated for brilliancy. This is a very well written book. All of the goals of Louis get achieved through her writing. The writing is fluent and strong with lots of details made making this an even more purposeful autobiography. The story has made a success with the story of love and murder in a one of a kind true crime. So did Louis Simmie get her book to be a success? Yes, she accomplishes the goal of making this a piece of Canadian history. The book was purposeful and every word had a much deeper meaning throughout the whole book. The book was quite enjoyable and a fun read. A very entertain able book you could share and spark conversation with to other people. In terms of the books value it is a definite yes. This is a modern day work of art and an important piece of the puzzle in Canadian history.
The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson, written by Lois Simmie, is a hybrid book featuring a nonfiction storyline with a personal, albeit fabricated, flare which gives us a glimpse into what the interior dialogue of the individuals involved the novel might have felt. The essence in focus centres around John Wilson, sometimes referred to as Jack, and the double life which he opts to play. Throughout the plot of the novel, personalities clash and emotions formerly unseen rise to the surface. One action is used as a recurring theme anchoring all of the chapters and events together, that being deception. Betrayal and deception by the hands of John Wilson were shown towards the main individuals of the novel, namely Polly, Elizabeth, and Jessie.
“The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson: A True Story of Love and Murder” is studied as a historical non-fiction novel, in which Lois Simmie shows the reader the actions of a man who sets his life up in a series of lies and betrayal. Her purpose is clear, to intrigue the audience with a true story of the murder of Polly Wilson, which had not yet been heard. Though not a lot of people had ever heard of John Wilson, the first ever Saskatchewan RNWMP officer who was found guilty of a crime, being that he killed his wife, and hung to his death. She writes her novel that is not only entertaining to her audience but also serves the purpose of educating fellow Canadians about the true life events that followed John Wilson and his fellow RNWMP officers.
The book Outlaw Platoon written by Sean Parnell is a soldiers’ tale of his platoon in one of the most dangerous places on earth. This book is a non-fiction riveting work that tells the story of a platoon that spent sixteen months on an operating base in the Bermel Valley, the border of Pakistan. This mission the men were sent on was part of a mission called Operation Enduring Freedom. This book is extremely relevant to the war that we are still fighting in Afghanistan and the humanitarian work that continues. We still have men in this area fighting and losing their lives everyday. It is the focus of ongoing political debates and the purpose of our involvement there is an ongoing question in the minds of many Americans. In writing this book, Parnell makes it clear in his author’s notes that he indeed was not trying to pursue one political agenda over another. His goal as not to speak of all members of the platoon and expose their identities and the types of soldiers they were but instead to showcase some of the men’s bravery and abilities during the war. Parnell believed that he owed it to the men to write something that would show the world what these men go through during combat in an honest and raw account. Another purpose of Parnell’s in writing this book is an attempt at making sure these men are given a place in American war history.
During the Bannock War of 1878, Sarah Winnemucca served as a messenger, scout, and interpreter for General O. O. Howards. Her familiarity with the military dates back to when she was just a child. Her Grandfather Truckee initiated contact between the Piutes and the Whites through what he called a “rag-friend,” which was in fact a letter signed by a General documenting Chief Truckee’s service in the Mexican War (Winnemucca 27). The idea of this “rag-friend,” as Groover Lape Noreen explains, “represents within [their] oral community the possibility for open communication that defies time, space, and cultural prejudice” (259). This affiliation with the
Struggling with the woes of poverty and added responsibilities, Alvin York, discovers himself fleeing from religion with Satan dangling securely to his shirttail. York is a round character that is a rabble-rouser in the beginning, yet evolves into an extraordinary spiritual man. “Sergeant York” is a 1941 film portraying the trials and triumphs of Sergeant Alvin York. Based on real situations, the aforementioned flick depicts the life of a boy who grew up in the Tennessee Hills, then went off to fight in a war that would mold him into an American Hero.
It is often astounding how secrets can tear lives apart. The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson gives testament to this fact. This story is the ultimate portrayal of deception and betrayal set amidst the serene, isolated canvas of the Saskatchewan prairies. What makes this story seems unbelievable is the fact that this is a true story which actually occurred as opposed to being fiction. John Wilson killed his loving unsuspecting wife Polly and hid her body in an isolated culvert in 1918 near Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Some years later he would be tried in a court of law, convicted and hung for his crime in Prince Alberta, Saskatchewan. He was the first and only Mountie to be hung in Canadian History. Once again, providing that the Mounties did get their man after intense justifying
Robert Ross’ is introduced to characters with varying outlooks on the world, based on their own social and economic backgrounds. The soldiers around Robert Ross differ greatly,...
... Winning the Second Battle: Canadian Veterans and the Return to Civilian Life, 1915-1930: 197.
Thompson, John Herd, and Mark Paul Richard. "Canadian History in North American Context." In Canadian studies in the new millennium. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008. 37-64.
For example, the book's discussion of Fort William notes the site's role in reinforcing Ontario's self-image as the largest and most central player in Canada's federation due to the sites historical status as the epicentre of Canada's fur trade and as the “buckle” of Canada's east and west (77). Moreover, the book notes fear of American cultural encroachment and commercial competition from similar American historical sites were also motivating factors in the government's decision to reconstruct Fort William and designate it a national historical site. The theme of Canada's multicultural and often fractious national identity surfaces often in Campbell's book, and the countries dilemma is perfectly captured in the following
The movie Soldier’s Girl is about a young man named Barry Winchell, who is a new recruit in the 101st Airborne. Once settling in, he befriends his roommate Justin Fisher who suffers from some medical problems, which he abuses prescription drugs to deal with his emotional problems. One night, Justin feels the need to take Winchell and a few others to Nashville, to a local bar that performs drag shows. At the bar, Winchell becomes fascinated by one of the drag performers, Calpernia Addams, which they hit it off and begin a relationship with one another. Justin does not like this at all, and recruits other soldiers to harass Winchell about his private life, as well as, spreading a rumor about Winchell’s affair. This is very dangerous for Winchell,
Sgt. John Wilson of the RNWMP abandons his family in Scotland only to find his past is not as easy to leave behind as sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. His past history of lies start to catch up to him and soon he finds himself on the wrong side of an interrogation. The secret lives of Sgt. John Wilson is a biography researched and written by Lois Simmie. What follows is an examination of the authors purpose for writing this biography, whether or not the purpose is worthwhile in regard to time and money spent by the author and reader, and whether her purpose for writing this biography is accomplished or not.
Mackenzie King, Canada’s Prime Minister who served during the Second World War, once said during a speech: “Let it be remembered, too, that at a time of war, nearly everyone is under great strain.” This single comment directly reflected on Canadian experiences during the Second World War. The straining events of the war stretched to the highest rank in Canada when the Prime Minister dealt with the Conscription crisis, and even to the lowest undesirable rank in Canada’s wartime society, enemy aliens with their struggles. It was also during this global conflict that Canadians witnessed change in their ideologies and methodologies as well as new introductions in these areas. Attitudes towards women matured to higher statuses, and the high demand
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