(left: McClelland & Stewart, pb, 1969; centre: copy of Frank Newfeld’s original design, uncolored; right: signed Watson)
Sheila (Martin) Watson (1909-1998) was a long-time fiction writer, professor and critic. Her Double Hook (1959) was called the first contemporary novel in Canada. She was born in New Westminster, B.C., later marrying Wilfred Watson, another Canadian writer who was a poet and playwright. She turned down an offer to film her famous book because she wouldn’t have script veto rights. Watson and her husband retired to Nanaimo where they both died in 1998.
(rare double signed Peguis dj)
Rev./Dr. Thomas Saunders (1909-2005) was born in Scotland and came to Canada graduating from United College (U of Wpg). He was a Chaplain for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and Literary Editor of the Winnipeg Free Press. Saunders had 6 books of poetry to his credit including 1951’s Horizontal World.