The Best of Wilfred Grenfell

by Wilfred Thomason Grenfell

True life stories of the heroic efforts of people by a man as legendary as his subject. In the fifty years since his death, Wilfred Grenfell, a missionary doctor who served the norther reaches of Newfoundland and Labrador, has become a folk hero.

179 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, KCMG (28 February 1865 – 9 October 1940) was a medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Grenfell moved to London in 1882. He then commenced the study of medicine at the London Hospital Medical College (now part of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry) under the tutelage of Sir Frederick Treves: he graduated in 1888. His immediate family came from Rugby, Warwickshire.

The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen sent Grenfell to Newfoundland in 1892 to improve the plight of coastal inhabitants and fishermen.[2] That mission began in earnest in 1893 when he recruited two nurses and two doctors for hospitals at Indian Harbour, Newfoundland and later opened cottage hospitals along the coast of Labrador. The mission expanded greatly from its initial mandate to one of developing schools, an orphanage, cooperatives, industrial work projects, and social work. Although originally founded to serve the local fishermen the mission developed to include the aboriginal peoples and settlers along the coasts of Labrador and the eastern side of the Great Northern Peninsula of northern Newfoundland. For his years of service on behalf of the people of these communities he was later knighted.

Reviews

[Valerie Suwanseree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories are fascinating looks at an unusual landscape (Labrador, Canada) and very resourceful and honorable people during trying times.

[Laurie Phillips]

The best grenfell book I have read was "His Life and His Work"

[Sheila Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so glad to have learned about this amazing man while in Newfoundland this summer. And I am equally glad to have read some of his own writing, to get a better sense of who he was.