Geoffrey Bilson

Background

Geoffrey Bilson was born on January 27, 1938 in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. He was a son of a ship’s radio officer.

Education

Bilson displayed a taste for writing at an early age – he and his brother produced a family magazine. Later, at school, Geoffrey won a class story competition.

Geoffrey attended the University of Wales College, Aberystwyth, in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Later, Bilson graduated from the University of Omaha with a Master of Arts degree in history and political science. At the Stanford University, Geoffrey Bilson obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in history.

Career

Geoffrey Bilson worked at the University of Saskatchewan as a professor of history.

First Geoffrey Bilson’s book, A Darkened House, about cholera in nineteenth-century Canada was published in 1980. It was followed by a novel for children Goodbye Sarah, adapted by himself for the stage and performed at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon. Two other academic projects, The Guest Children and Hockeybat Harris, a re-creation of the evacuees’ experience from the point of view of one child, David Harris, were both about a history of the children evacuated to Canada from Britain during World War II.

Bilson was also an author of articles on historical subjects for academic journals such as Acadiensis, a journal of regional history devoted to the study of Atlantic Canada.

Achievements

• Geoffrey Bilsons' young and adult novels were listed as Our Choice selections by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
  
  The Canadian Children’s Book Centre also established the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction in his memory.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Darkened House: Cholera in Nineteenth Century Canada

    (In this fascinating and disturbing book, Geoffrey Bilson ...)

    1980
  • Goodbye Sarah

    (This is a novel for young adults.)

    1982
  • Death over Montreal

    (This is a novel for young adults.)

    1982
  • Hockeybat Harris

    (This is a novel for young adults.)

    1992
  • The Guest Children: The Story of the British Child Evacuees Sent to Canada During World War II 1988

Membership

• 

  Saskatchewan Writers Guild , Canada

• Open Door Society , Canada

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• "An excellent example of weaving period flags and signposts into a narrative." Sandra Martin reviewing Hockeybat Harris.
  
  "Truly gentle man, so without guile" Valerie Hussey of Kids Can Press.

Interests

• reading, travel, hiking in the mountains, movies, theatre, music

Connections

Geoffrey Bilson's wife name was Beth. The couple had a son Max and a daughter Kate.

Spouse:

Beth

Son:

Max

Daughter:

Kate