26 - Wednesday, April 1, 1992 — North Shore News King Grab Epic-length study of B.C’s Robert Dunsmuir doesn’t disappoint — The Dunsmuir Saga by Terry Reksten Published by Douglas & Mcintyre, 1991 290 pg., 49 photographs, $29.95 (hardcover) Terry Reksten carries on her examination of the people N HER latest book, The Dunsmuir Saga, Victoria author who built British Columbia. Beginning in 1978 with her book Rattenbury, followed by More English than the English: A Very Social History of Victoria in 1986, she introduced us to an ar- ray of characters worthy of a closer look. Her third book Craigdarroch: The Story of Dunsmuir Castle (1988) focused ona single house built by a truly singular man, Robert Dunsmuir, who is the pivotal character in her fourth book, The Dunsmuir Saga. ~ Reksten’s use of the word “saga” is certainly appropriate as the reader is introduced to suc- “cessive generations of the Dunsmuir family. She begins with Robert Dunsmuir of Old Hurlford near ‘Kilmarnock in Scotland, who was well established in the coal ... business in 1816, and ends with: . the death of the iast of his great ‘ granddaughters in 1966. The look at several generations of the family -puts British Columbia’s Robert ‘Dunsmuir, grandson of the Old Hurlford Robert, into a broader. ‘context. ; -. Solid research and new insights enrich the story not only of her -characters but to the spirit of the | times in which they lived. © | British Columbia’s Robert Dunsmuir seems to have had the tole of empire builder thrust upon In Review LOOKS AT BOOKS him. In essence, he had been ex- iled after Scottish society shunned him and forced him to marry the woman who gave birth to their first child eight days after the nup- tials. . Young Robert arrived in British Columbia, the farthest-flung part of the Empire, with a family to sup- port, and little more than his fami- ly’s head for business and a burn- ing desire to succeed. It is perhaps only because we have been given an insight into Robert’s early life that we under- stand ‘King Grab” as he was not too affectionately known. While Reksten gives substance to such criticism by setting out his dealings with labor unions, she is by no means satisfied with a sim- ple recitation of the events of a Findlay’s latest work full of real prornise From page 20 It thoroughly overshadows the gear-like form, emblem of femi- ninity, which recedes into the background. This scenario is set in a purpose- ly insidious landscape. Although the untravelled hills in the background suggest an escape, the ground over which one must pass to reach them is wildly un- dulating and menaced by a phalanx of sharp-toothed shapes. _ The link between sex and power is clear, the difficulty of navigation in such a landscape established. ifthe rapid development that takes place in this brief but power- ful series is anything to go by, the new departure this artist is em- barking on in the latest painting on show here — a structural analysis of the image of women suggested by Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon — is full of real prom- ise. Here is an emerging painter ¢ watch out for. Band receives great support from loyal North Shore fans From page 25 She Stole My Beer, meanwhile, continue to put on hot live shows. They say their biggest support has come from their hard-core fans, some of whom have followed them since their formative years at Sandy's Cove and at Whistler. “A lot of people from the North Shore gave us a lot of sup- port,” notes Taylor. “Some of our friends from North Vancouver came out to see us every night.” The group has big dreams, but plans to take things one step at a time. Waisman says their greatest asset has always been their ability to get along, and the important thing now is to stay together. MARINE RESORT 634 Campbell St. TOFINO, B.C. WHALE WATCHERS Accommodation & Breakfast for Two - $49.00 & up (including tax) BLUE HERON WATERFRONT RESTAURANT March 1 - April 30, 1992 “CATCH THE OCEAN SPIRIT" Reservations recommended Box 553, Tofina, VOR 2ZO 725-3277 ruthless man’s rise to power. She quite nicely balances stories of Robert Dunsmuir’s business deal- ings with ample indication of his weaknesses. That he saw trade unions as a threat might have been under- standable. Oddly, though, his mistrust of other men seemed to extend to his sons James, who ran the mining operations and later became Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, and Alex, wha made Dunsmuir coal a best-seller in California. They were given the responsibil- ity of making his fortune grow, but to their horror, upon his death, Robert left his entire fortune to his wife. Her ambition was not to diversify to see the Dunsmuir for- tune grow, but, as Reksten puts it, “to invest her income in acquir- 125E2ND _NORTH VAN. OVER 49 TASTES FOR. SALAD BAR PICKLED BEETS.. BLACK OLIVES PICKLES GREEK SALAD BIG SHELL SALAD POTATO SALAD RAISIN & CARROT SALAD ROMAINE — TOSSED GREEN GREEN PEPPER BROCCOLI COLESLAW RED CHERRIES ‘STUFFED OLIVES ALFALFA SPROUTS CHERRY TOMATOES CUCUMBER MUSHROOMS COTTAGE CHEESE SHREDDED CHEDDAR ing for her daughters the besi husbands Dunsmuir dollars could uy.” Reksten’s accounts of the sear- ches make the reader acutely aware of the waste of Alex’s and James’ talents. Untike families such as the Rothchilds, each gen- eration of which seems to produce an heir to the family talent, all subsequent Dunsmuirs lived in Robert’s shadow. A lesser writer might nave left Robert's descendants in that shadow, but again Reksten rises to the task. The reader's interest is sustained by photographs of her characters, including some unlikely acquain- tances such as Kaiser Wilhelm pic- tured on the Dunsmuir’s 218-foot yacht, and James’ daughter Dola with Hollywood star Tallulah s. COLD FOOD SALMON PEFPER SALAMI — SMOKED CHICKEN COOKED SHRIMP (Péei to your heart's content) DAILY SOUP 2 DAILY Wit: MANHATTEN CLAM CHOWDER __. ASSORTED DAILY BREAD FRIDAY 4 4 SATURDAY # SUNDAY > =~ ONLY Bankhead with whom she lived off and on for some 40 years. For the particularly avid, Reksten has included chapter notes and a list of sources. Alas, notes and sources are no | guarantee of a read as satisfying as The Dunsmuir Saga proves to be. But Reksten shows an ability to. recognize a good story and tell it -- in an entertaining way. : In the end one might recall Pierre Berton’s comment that the people who made Canada have stories at least as interesting as those who have populated Hollywood epics about the Old West. Terry Reksten’s The ‘ Dunsmuir Saga certainly proves the statement. © — By John R. Stuart, curator of North Vancouver Museum and Archives. . , $11.50 Seniors $8:50 - HOTFOOD | YORKSHIRE PUDDING _ ROAST BEEF oa BAR-B-Q RIBS | BAKED HAM: ROAST CHICKEN “|: ’ SEAFOOD CREPES’ © MUSSELS iN CREAM SAUCE a CHICKEN WINGS PORK SKEWERS CURRIED) BEEF CURRIED SHRIMP DEEP FRIED SHRIMP CABBAGE ROLLS SWEET & SOUR PORK - VEGETABLES : RICE ROAST POTATO DAILY PASTA PIZZA : DESSERT. OVEN FRESH APPLE PIE ASSORTED CAKES ~~ -POPPY SEED -BANANA = -ALMOND FUDGE -SAMBUCA «CARROT CAKE ””-\ CHOCOLATE MINT PIE _ BUTTER PECAN TARTS FRESH FRUIT