Baltimore's Mansion

I just finished reading a memoir by Wayne Johnston called Baltimore's Mansion. The title refers to a structure built in the 1600s at Ferryland, south of St. John's Newfoundland, to be the home of the founder of the colony, one Lord Baltimore. Baltimore only lasted one winter in the colony before looking for more reasonable winters in Maryland. The book is a family story, the story of the author, his father and grandfather in a Newfoundland on the brink of losing its independence and becoming a province of Canada.

Even though Newfoundland has been part of Canada for less than 60 years, I never gave this huge event a second thought. When I was growing up, it was part of Canada, and I accepted that without question. In high school, I learned a little about the referendum and about Joey Smallwood, but really, not nearly enough. For anyone who doesn't know who Joey Smallwood was, read this book immediately.

Baltimore's Mansion is a beautiful book. It is written from the mind of a novelist - that is to say, it is structured carefully and purposefully. It has a lot to say about Newfoundland, and a lot to say about families. As much as anything else, though, it is a book about leaving, leaving home, leaving Newfoundland. The characters, real people, real family - are complex and awkward and difficult and stubborn.

Baltimore's Mansion was published by Random House of Canada in 1999.

On the 5 fish anchovy scale, I rate this memoir 4+ salties.