Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The Mystery of Mills' Library ...

Turns out Frank and Joe have found a new home !!

I read this morning in the newspaper that the collected correspondence, diaries, early materials and first additions of Canadian writer Leslie McFarlane have been acquired by McMaster University in Hamilton.

Never heard of Leslie McFarlane ??

Yes you have. He was better know under his nom d'plume of Franklin W. Dixon, the creator of the Hardy Boys Series of books that boys have read for the last 80 years !!!

This collection is described as a "dream acquisition" for the University library, that will allow scholarly research on both the writer and his creation which has remained popular with boys of all ages.

An interesting aside - McFarlane, who died in 1977, had three children. Two of whom have forged notable careers in their own right. His daughter Norah McFarlane-Perez is a US based writer who has penned five young-adult books, and his son Brian is well known to generations of Canadians who grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada ...

As a McMaster Alumni, I'm feeling a blush of pride ... maybe it's a good time to haul out my Hardy Boys books for a bit of light winter reading ... In the meantime, Joe and Frank are off on a grand new adventure in West Hamilton !! I wonder what mysteries they will help solve ??

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