The Artist Soldier: A.Y. Jackson and the Origins of the Group of Seven

In this podcast episode, Greg Marchildon interviews Douglas Hunter, the author of Jackson's Wars: A.Y. Jackson, the Birth of the Group of Seven, and the Great War. In this book, two critical cultural aspects of Canadian history intertwine – the Group of Seven and the Great War. This biography provides a vivid and detailed account of the great Canadian painter A.Y. Jackson and the origins of the Group of Seven. Hunter illustrates Jackson’s childhood, beginnings as an artist, and the influence of the First World War on Jackson’s work and life. Hunter offers an in-depth story of a peak, and transformative, period of Jackson’s life that led to his evolution as an artist and the birth of the Group of Seven. Douglas Hunter is a non-fiction professional writer. He has a PhD in History (2015) from York University and is the author or co-author of at least twenty non-fiction books. He is also an artist and works as an illustrator and graphic designer. This podcast was produced by Jessica Schmidt. Image credit: Mortimer Lamb/Library and Archives Canada If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.