Raisin Wine A Boyhood in a Different Muskoka

A warm, at times hilarious, yet dark childhood memoir from a bestselling author. This memoir recalls the boyhood years of Ontario's future lieutenant-governor, living in a dilapidated old house complete with outdoor toilet and coal oil-lamp lighting. Behind the outrageous stories, larger-than life-characters, and descriptions of the mores of a small village in the heart of Ontario's cottage country are flashes of insight from the perspective of a child that recall the great classicWho has Seen the Windby W.O. Mitchell. But why "a different Muskoka?" Because the boy was a half-breed kid. Visits to his mother's reserve showed him that he was caught between two worlds. His mother's fight with depression flowed from that dilemma. His father the book's main character was a lovable, white, working class, happy-go-lucky guy who never had any money but who made the best home brew in the village and his specialty was raisin wine. Like that raisin wine, this unusual book goes down easily and has a kick to it. From the Hardcover edition.

James K. Bartleman went on to have a very distinguished career in Canada’s foreign service, described in his books On Six Continents and Rollercoaster. He is the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario.


From the Hardcover edition.