Photos Courtesy of the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society.
On Writing: Historical Fiction
Brian Rendell is weaving together family stories and forgotten yet memorable historic people and events to better understand the present.
Through lyrical storytelling, compelling research, and themes of love, loyalty, passion and pride, Brian’s historical fiction manuscript-in-progress will take you on a journey in search of meaning and an understanding of how we are inextricably linked to our past.
Brian was born and raised on the mystical island of Newfoundland and has enjoyed an unorthodox career blending finance and fiction. His research has taken him from Newfoundland to the British Library in London.
Manuscript in Progress
THE GRANDEST FALLS (working title), a work of historical fiction, is inspired by Brian Rendell’s family stories, and is anchored by well-researched facts and actual historical events and characters (including a fictionalized version of his grandfather and the fascinating Mary, Lady Northcliffe). Brian is weaving together a story of love, loyalty, passion and pride.
The story is told from three points-of-view and in a dual timeline: the beginning of the 20th century and the late 1970s. It is set in locations as diverse as London, England, New York City, and the curious island of Newfoundland.
Leonard True Rendell.
Brian’s grandfather & inspiration.
Mary, Lady Northcliffe.
Her story must be told.
Musings on Writing
Ten Must Read Novels – an MFA Assignment
One of the assignments in this autumn's MFA semester is to choose ten “must read” fiction novels and provide a brief note explaining why the novel is important. Naturally, I chose novels that can...
Quotes Inspiring the Manuscript
"Don't you ever lie to your mother—nobody makes that kind of money!"
A stern warning in 1909 from his acerbic mother to my grandfather after he told her Lord Northcliffe was paying him $1.43/day in cash wages in Grand Falls. At that time in Newfoundland, it was extremely rare to be paid in cash as bartering codfish for supplies was the norm.
“…he [Lord Northcliffe] had succumbed to an almost irrational belief that his personal destiny was linked to developing the interior of Newfoundland. In the world that Northcliffe intended to create, all needs would be met….”
S.J. Taylor, from her book “The Great Outsiders”
"In 1918, Lady Northcliffe was at the peak of her powers...recently made Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for her charitable work during the war...Looking like the modern incarnation of Britannia...she embodied all the women who had found a new sense of purpose through their war work."
Rachel Trethewey, from her book "Pearls Before Poppies"
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