William Patrick Kinsella, a celebrated Canadian novelist and short story writer, left an indelible mark on literature with his poignant narratives often weaving through the realms of baseball, Canada’s First Nations, and quintessential Canadian experiences. While he is globally recognized for Shoeless Joe, the inspiration behind the iconic film Field of Dreams, a deeper exploration into his oeuvre reveals his significant contributions to portraying First Nations life, notably through works that led to “Dance Me Outside”.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, to John Matthew and Olive Kinsella, W.P. Kinsella’s early years were spent in a homestead near Darwell. His mother, his first educator, instilled in him a love for reading and writing from a young age. This early immersion in storytelling blossomed into a lifelong passion. Later moving to Edmonton, Kinsella engaged in various professions before fully embracing his literary calling. From clerking for the Alberta government to managing a pizza restaurant named Caesar’s Italian Village in Victoria, British Columbia, and even driving a taxi, these diverse experiences enriched his understanding of human stories, which would later permeate his writing.
His formal journey into writing began at the University of Victoria in 1970, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing in 1974. He further honed his craft at the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, earning a Master of Fine Arts in English in 1978. The University of Victoria later honored his accomplishments with a Doctor of Literature degree in 1991.
While Shoeless Joe catapulted him to international fame, Kinsella’s engagement with First Nations stories is equally compelling. His collection of eight short story books vividly depicting life on a First Nations reserve provided the foundation for the movie Dance Me Outside and the CBC television series The Rez. Despite the adaptations, Kinsella held a critical view of both, considering them to be of “very poor quality”. This critical stance underscores his deep commitment to authentic representation and the nuanced portrayal of First Nations experiences in his written works, even if he felt the screen adaptations missed the mark.
His storytelling prowess was not limited to narratives about First Nations or baseball. His versatility shone through in works like Fencepost Chronicles, which garnered the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour in 1987, showcasing his ability to blend humor with insightful observations of life.
Before dedicating himself fully to writing, Kinsella shared his knowledge and passion for literature as an English professor at the University of Calgary. A car accident in 1997 marked a pause in his fiction writing, yet he returned with Butterfly Winter, demonstrating his resilience and enduring creativity. Beyond writing, Kinsella was a dedicated Scrabble player, finding solace in the game, particularly after the 1994 Major League Baseball strike. In his later years in Yale, British Columbia, with his fourth wife, Barbara, he continued to contribute articles to various newspapers, remaining engaged with the world and his craft until his final days.
Kinsella’s contributions to Canadian literature were formally recognized with his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and the Order of British Columbia in 2005. His decision to end his life with medical assistance on September 16, 2016, marked the end of a remarkable life dedicated to storytelling. W.P. Kinsella’s legacy extends beyond Field of Dreams; it encompasses his rich tapestry of Canadian narratives, his exploration of First Nations life that inspired “Dance Me Outside”, and his enduring impact on Canadian literature. His willingness to tackle diverse themes with depth and humanity cements his place as a significant voice in Canadian storytelling.
