Green Mackinaw: In Europe 1954-55 - Tapa dura

A curious and earnestly spiritual Mennonite student at the university of British Columbia leaves for an exchange year in Europe in 1954. Decades later a crusty octogenarian looks back on his idealistic youth through that one year of study and travel. The reader of the memoir is taken back to post-World War II Europe, which was still in reconstruction. Rich art and architecture appears on every hand, as well as many intriguing landscapes. The student observes it all with a sense of wonder; he accumulated hundreds of photographs and a substantial diary. He finds a different and challenging system at the University of Hamburg, he explored a broad swath from England to Crete. The lessons learned deeply influenced subsequent travel to many countries with his wife and family. In 1954-55 he began to question some of his beliefs but also developed a passion for places that would lead into a lengthy and respected career in Human Geography. Green Mackinaw struggles against clichés and conventions; it is also full of wit and humour, it delights and informs....

Alfred H. Siemens, PhD, is a professor emeritus in the Geography Department at the University of British Columbia. From the early 1990's he has been lecturing and conducting graduate seminars at various Mexican universities and research institutes. He is also an avid photographer, some of his work can be found at www.landscapephotoart.com...