“Arctic Twilight, Claudia Coutu Radmore’s fine collection of letters from Leonard Budgell—Arctic adventurer, radio and naval expert, fur trader, raconteur, life-long “Servant of the Bay,” and a whole lot more—provides an illuminating portrait of life in the changing Canadian North during much of the twentieth century. Budgell’s account of his well-travelled life, at once autobiography, history, and yarn, ranges from the riotously funny to the deeply moving. It is the fascinating story of one of twentieth-century Canada’s true pioneers. Arctic Twilight deserves a wide readership.”

A.B. McKILLOP, Professor of History, Carleton University, Ottawa; author of Pierre Berton: A Biography

“Arctic Twilight takes us into the mind of a gentleman of another time—a man of high intelligence, good sense and deep loyalty to The Hudson’s Bay Company. Providing a thousand rich details regarding day-to-day life in the Arctic, Leonard Budgell’s letters will delight history lovers, students of the North and fiction writers in need of background material. We should be grateful to Claudia Coutu Radmore for this valuable collection.”

BERNICE MORGAN, author of Random Passage and Cloud of Bone

“Len Budgell’s letters are one of the greatest legacies anyone could have left Canada and its people. With incredible insight and sensitivity he painted a remarkable picture, particularly of the aboriginal peoples of the Canadian north and their humanity. This work is extremely powerful in what it says about the humanity of first nations peoples, about the negligence and racism of mainstream Canada. It puts real life to the conditions of the north.”

DR. FRITS PANNEKOEK, Professor of History and President of Athabasca University

“Of all the books I’ve worked on, this is my favourite. Len Budgell’s letters are filled with wonderful stories—stories full of feeling, humour, wonder and courage—and descriptions of such beauty that you have to stop and re-read them. I want all my family and friends—everyone—to read it.”

DOMINIC FARRELL, editor; author of the forthcoming book The Flag and the Pole, Canada’s experience in the northern archipelago

“Over the years I’ve become so jaded by manuscripts that have come my way, even by those on the verge of being published. In Arctic Twilight I surely wasn’t expecting to find (a) excellent writing, (b) subjects that touched me directly, or (c) glimpses of simple, unaffected, literary genius. But all three are here, in abundance.

“Len’s letters to Claudia Coutu are abundant and sparkling, original, engaging—how completely wonderful. What a blessing that these two formed such a bond, and I think the fact Claudia is now sharing a manifestation of that bond with the world, is tremendous.

“In short, I am enchanted, riveted even, but the kind of ‘riveted’ where one wants to proceed slowly, to relish each bit. I confess I’ve taken to bringing the manuscript for Arctic Twilight with me from room to room, to have it close by for moments in between other occupations, snatches of time when I can pick it up again.

KAREN MOLSON, historian; author of The Molsons: Their Lives and Times