Findley, Timothy Irving Frederick

▪ 2003

      Canadian writer (b. Oct. 30, 1930, Toronto, Ont.—d. June 20, 2002, south of France), was best known for his novels, although he also wrote a number of dramatic works. The novels, which tended to be complex works dealing with themes such as the loneliness of the outsider, politics and art, and madness, were written in various styles and encompassed a range of settings and eras. Several were best-sellers in Canada, and they were also popular in Europe. Known throughout his life as Tiff, an acronym formed from his initials, Findley suffered from frequent illnesses during his childhood, and he early on turned to reading and writing. His formal education ended with the ninth grade. He worked as an actor for 15 years and in 1953 became a charter member of the Stratford (Ont.) Shakespeare Festival. It was on the advice of Thornton Wilder and the actress Ruth Gordon, with whom he was appearing in Wilder's The Matchmaker, that he turned to writing. His first two novels were not particularly well received, but his third, The Wars (1977), dealing with the experiences of a soldier during World War I, was a success and won the Governor-General's Award for fiction. This was followed by another popular and critical success, Famous Last Words (1981). Later novels included Headhunter (1993) and Pilgrim (1999). In all, he published 12 novels. Findley never lost interest in the theatre, however, and throughout his career he wrote plays as well as scripts for radio and television. His play Elizabeth Rex (2000) won the Governor-General's Award for drama. He also wrote two books of memoirs. Findley was widely known for his support of and generosity toward young writers. France made him Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

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