The Cremation of Sam McGee
Reviewed by Christina Patterson, Instructor

The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service was first published in 1907. Painter Ted Harrison beautifully illustrates the new release of this Canadian classic. The book is large and colourful. The print size is perfect. There is a passage of the poem about every other page. This is an art book. There are no page numbers. There are plenty of pictures to brilliantly depict a frigid Canadian north with gold miners, dog sleds and northern lights.

Each painting is accompanied by a written description of the details in the paintings. Often, the description includes ‘truths’ about life in the north. For example, “The Yukon air is so dry that an old stove exposed to the elements will not easily rust. Often cabins can lie deserted for years with their contents intact and well preserved.”

Eight of us read this poem, each person reading one line. Some of the vocabulary is difficult. Words like “hearkened” and “derelict” may need to be explained. It helps to have a couple of students who can read pretty good to keep the rhythm of the poem going. Some of the poem is very easy to read. It’s a very funny poem. We laughed out loud. We read the poem two times. The second reading we knew the rhythm better and read with gusto. Later, after we’d talked about the poem, we wrote our own poems and recreated the rhythm from The Cremation of Sam McGee.

There is an introduction to the book. Ron Frankson from Heiltsuk College says, “I enjoyed reading Pierre Berton’s write up on the first and second page. I started understanding the poem after reading this.”

The book is very reasonably priced given that it includes such brilliant, colourful paintings by this popular painter.