Robert Harlow | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Robert Harlow

Robert Harlow, novelist, teacher (b at Prince Rupert, BC 19 Nov 1923). During WWII Harlow flew as a bomber pilot and was awarded the DFC, retiring at 21.

Robert Harlow, novelist, teacher (b at Prince Rupert, BC 19 Nov 1923). During WWII Harlow flew as a bomber pilot and was awarded the DFC, retiring at 21. He was a graduate of the University of British Columbia (1948) and the University of Iowa (1951) and worked for the CBC from 1951-65 (director of radio for the BC region 1954-65). In 1965 he became head of UBC's creative writing dept, where he encouraged and influenced several prominent Canadian writers early in their careers. Harlow's novels include Royal Murdoch (1962), A Gift of Echoes (1965) and his best-known and finest work, Scann (1972), which make up the Linden trilogy, named after the imaginary northern BC town that figures in the settings of all 3 books. Later works are Making Arrangements (1978), Paul Nolan (1983) and Felice: A Travelogue (1985). His most recent publication is the novel The Saxophone Winter (1988).

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