Isobel gunn biography books

  • Isobel Gunn, Audrey Thomas's eighth novel, is the heart-rending tale of a poor Orkney woman who tries to escape her tragic family circumstances.
  • Isobel Gunn (sometimes also called Isabel) lived from 1 August 1781 to 7 November 1861.
  • Current Set in the first decade of the 19th century, Audrey Thomas's latest novel sees Isobel ship out for the shores of James Bay.

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    Beyond Extraordinary: Isobel Gunn

    Home/Spotlight/Beyond Extraordinary: Isobel Gunn

    Our newest Spotlight from the series ‘Behind the Story’. In this series we take a closer look at the fascinating history behind stories which have been shared with us on the Spirit: Stories archive. 

    This week, inspired by the story ‘John Login’, submitted by Rosemary Anderson, join us as we take a moment to explore the story of fellow Orcadian STEM pioneer – ‘Orkneyman’ Isobel Gunn. 

    It is often the most interesting of stories that are the ones shrouded in mystery, drama, and uncertainty. This is certainly the case of Orcadian Isobel Gunn, for whom we cannot even be sure of her real name. 

    However, from what has been pieced together of her life from the historical record, the story of Isobel Gunn is beyond extraordinary. 

    Early Life

    Like many aspects of her early life, Isobel Gunn’s date of birth is uncertain. Reported either as 1st August 1780 or the 1st August 1781, Isobel is believed t

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    Isobel Gunn

    June 25, 2016
    This fryst vatten such an interesting story. Based loosely on the real life of Hudson's Bay Company man, John Fubbister, who arrives in Moose Factory in 1806 to work in the fur trade for three years ... until "he" gives birth to a healthy baby boy in 1807! Isobel Gunn had been living as a man in one of the most inhospitable places on earth, masquerading as HBC man John Fubbister, for almost two years until she had a child bygd co-worker John Scarth. How fascinating (and a bit of a surprise for Alexander Henry who funnen Isobel/John in the throes of labour on his hearth!).

    I liked this book, it was really moving and ganska beautifully written in places. It seems very real, since Thomas brings the wasteland of James Bay, Moose Factory, Fort Albany, and the woods of 19th century Canada to life pretty well. You get to know the inner workings of the HBC from its earliest days, and the book is full of weird facts and strange truths about frontier life in James Bay, native lif
  • isobel gunn biography books

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    Stromness, Where Isobel Lived in Later Life
     

    Isobel Gunn (sometimes also called Isabel) lived from 1 August 1781 to 7 November 1861. She enrolled as a man in the Hudson's Bay Company and was the first European woman to reach western Canada. The wider picture in Scotland at the time is set out in our Historical Timeline.

    Isobel was born Isobel Fubister (or Fubbister) at Tankerness, east of Kirkwall in Orkney. In 1806 at the age of 15 she followed her brother (and many other young males in Orkney at the time) by joining the Hudson's Bay Company. According to some versions of the story, she was also following her lover, John Scarth. The Hudson's Bay Company did not employ European women at the time: she evaded this restriction by using her father's name, John Fubister, and dressing as a man. She then sailed with the company to Hudson Bay on board the Prince of Wales.

    In Canada, Islobel worked as a labourer at Fort Albany.