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Tovell wins Matthews Award
UBC Press author wins the Keith Matthews Award
UBC Press author, Freeman Tovell, wins the Keith Matthews Award for best book on a Canadian nautical subject for his book At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.
At the Far Reaches of Empire, is garnering rave reviews from all quarters, but was honoured this past weekend with a major award from the Canadian Nautical Research Society, whose awards committee had this to say about the book:
"This richly detailed, comprehensive, and balanced study of the famed Spanish navigator, Juan Francisco de la Bodega Y Quadra, adds enormously to our understanding of exploration and diplomatic interaction along the northwest coast of North America in the late 18th century. Freeman Tovell's impeccably researched and lively biography of Bodega serves as an interpretive model from which to explore complex Anglo-Spanish imperial rivalries at the time of the Nootka Sound crisis and also sheds fascinating light on native-newcomer relations in the region. At the Far Reaches of Empire is definitive, vivid, compelling, and penetrating. It is a work of massive scholarly importance to the history of British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.";
Freeman Tovell, now 91 years old and living in Victoria BC, spent the last 30 years researching and writing about the life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. Tovell holds degrees in history from the University of Toronto and Harvard, and served in the Canadian Navy during World War II. He subsequently spent thirty-five years in the Canadian Foreign Service, including ambassadorships to Peru and Bolivia.
The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Nautical Research Society, held in Victoria BC. The Society's aims are to promote nautical research in Canada, disseminate the results of such research and to encourage an awareness of Canada's maritime heritage.
UBC Press author, Freeman Tovell, wins the Keith Matthews Award for best book on a Canadian nautical subject for his book At the Far Reaches of Empire: The Life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.
At the Far Reaches of Empire, is garnering rave reviews from all quarters, but was honoured this past weekend with a major award from the Canadian Nautical Research Society, whose awards committee had this to say about the book:
"This richly detailed, comprehensive, and balanced study of the famed Spanish navigator, Juan Francisco de la Bodega Y Quadra, adds enormously to our understanding of exploration and diplomatic interaction along the northwest coast of North America in the late 18th century. Freeman Tovell's impeccably researched and lively biography of Bodega serves as an interpretive model from which to explore complex Anglo-Spanish imperial rivalries at the time of the Nootka Sound crisis and also sheds fascinating light on native-newcomer relations in the region. At the Far Reaches of Empire is definitive, vivid, compelling, and penetrating. It is a work of massive scholarly importance to the history of British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest.";
Freeman Tovell, now 91 years old and living in Victoria BC, spent the last 30 years researching and writing about the life of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra. Tovell holds degrees in history from the University of Toronto and Harvard, and served in the Canadian Navy during World War II. He subsequently spent thirty-five years in the Canadian Foreign Service, including ambassadorships to Peru and Bolivia.
The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Nautical Research Society, held in Victoria BC. The Society's aims are to promote nautical research in Canada, disseminate the results of such research and to encourage an awareness of Canada's maritime heritage.
Submitted on August 23, 2009 in By David.
