The historian and author Judith Williams discusses Cougars Companions: Bute Inlet Country and the Legendary Schnarrs, Raincoast Chronicles 24 (Harbour Publishing, 2019), with Joseph Planta.

Raincoast Chronicles 24: Cougars Companions: Bute Inlet Country and the Legendary Schnarrs by Judith Williams (Harbour Publishing, 2019). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Cougar Companions

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Raincoast Chronicles 24 has just been released by Harbour Publishing. Its author Judith Williams joins me now to discuss Cougars Companions: Bute Inlet Country and the Legendary Schnarrs. She does a wonderful job illuminating what life was like in Bute Inlet at the turn of the century. She talks about what motivated settlers, prospectors, trappers and loggers to come to British Columbia, especially in this remote part of the coast. She follows the lives of the Schnarr family, especially the life of August Schnarr, who would make his living off the land, but would also take photographs. He would strap a Kodak camera to his suspenders and he climbed mountains, and his collection of photos is a remarkable diary of fifty years of life upcoast. August took photos of his three daughters, and their pet cougars, and through Judith’s research, she’s sought first-hand accounts, archival material, and done her own research providing a full view of the Schnarrs, the people around Bute Inlet, and these marvelous photos. Judith Williams is assistant professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Her previous books include Clam Gardens, and Dynamite Stories. She joined me from her home on Cortes Island, British Columbia. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Judith Williams; Professor Williams, good morning.

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