William McLennan
William McLennan was a Canadian historical fiction writer born in Montreal in 1856, known for his contributions to the understanding of French-Canadian history as well as the histories of Scotland and France. After earning a law degree from McGill University in 1880, he became a notary public and engaged in various civic roles in Quebec. His literary career began in the 1890s with stories published in Harper's Weekly, culminating in the 1899 collection "In Old France and New," which explored themes from the French Revolution to the experiences of French immigrants in Canada, featuring narratives in Québécois patois. While some critiques arose regarding his portrayal of patois, his work is recognized for its sincerity and historical significance. Additionally, McLennan translated French songs into English, contributing to cultural preservation through his collected volume "Songs of Old Canada." He published two historical novels, "Spanish John" and "The Span O' Life," which, although not widely acclaimed, reflected his interest in themes of honor and integrity. McLennan's later years were marked by declining health, leading to his death in Italy in 1904, where he was interred at the English cemetery in Florence.
On this Page
Subject Terms
William McLennan
Writer
- Born: May 8, 1856
- Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Died: July 28, 1904
- Place of death: Vallombrosia, Italy
Biography
Canadian historical fiction writer William McLennan was born in Montreal in 1856, the son of a grain merchant. He received a law degree from McGill University in 1880 and became a notary public for the city of Montreal that same year. In 1883 he married Marion Patterson, with whom he would have four children: two sons and two daughters. McLennan held a variety of civic offices in Quebec and was known for his patriotism and his well- wrought sense of French-Canadian history—as well as that of Scotland and France.
McLennan began publishing stories in Harper’s Weekly in the 1890’s, and his writing was recognized for his ability to relay accurate historical information in an engaging narrative form. In 1899, the year he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Canada, his stories were collected in a volume called In Old France and New. His popular reputation during the early twentieth century rested largely on the craft he exhibited in these short stories and humorous tales. The volume has three sections: the first taking inspiration from the eighteenth century French Revolution, the second drawing on the experiences of the first generation of French immigrants to Canada, and the third giving voice to a fictionalized French- Canadian peasant, telling his stories in the first person in broken Québécois patois. Although the depiction of patois raised some criticisms that the narrative was either quaint or contemptuous, McLennan manages sincerity and the range of experience and vantage point reflected in the work make it a significant document of Canadian history.
In addition to his storytelling, McLennan made numerous translations of French songs into English, publishing them in the Montreal Gazette beginning in 1885 and producing the following year a collected volume called Songs of Old Canada. The volume contains both the original French and McLennan’s translation and thus not only reveals McLennan’s own literary sensibilities as a translator but also acts as a valuable historical record.
In 1898 and 1899, McLennan published two historical novels: Spanish John and The Span O’ Life: A Tale of Louisbourg and Quebec. Both are historical romances, both are based on the family history of Captain John McDonnell, and both explore themes of honor, integrity, and nobility. Neither novel was particularly popular with either critics or audiences.
McLennan travelled to Europe in 1901 in search of a cure for declining health. He died in Vallombrosa, Italy, in 1904, and is buried at the English cemetery in Florence.