book
Document/Book
Accession Number
2017.004Description
Yellow hardcover book titled "From Coalmine to Castle: The story of the Dunsmuirs of Vancouver Island" By James Audain. Front cover has a line drawing of a castle on it. 213 pages plus 8 pages of black and white photographs. Signed by the author. The book has a clear plastic dust jacket protector over it.Narrative
This book was written by James Guy Payne Audain (1903-1970), a grandson of Hon. James Dunsmuir and Laura Dunsmuir, and great grandson of Robert and Joan Dunsmuir, builders of Craigdarroch Castle. James Audain is a former President of The Society for the Preservation and Maintenance of Craigdarroch Castle, also known as The Castle Society.From Coal Mine to Castle chronicles the life and times of the Dunsmuir from the perspective of a family member. The book was the subject of a lawsuit brought by the author’s first cousin, Robin James Dunsmuir (1912-1990). Robin Dunsmuir successfully argued that author James Audain defamed him in the book. The presiding judge ordered the book removed from bookstores and libraries, effectively banning it. Audain was ordered to pay court costs and punitive damages to Dunsmuir. The gist of the case is found on page 209, where Audain revealed that his cousin was born out of wedlock. Dunsmuir was born in 1912, but his parents did not marry until 1915.
In 1922, Canada’s Parliament passed legislation that made a person retroactively legitimate if their parents married after the illegitimate person’s birth. If Mr. Audain had explained this law in his book, his cousin might not have brought legal action against him, or if he had, the judge’s ruling might have been different.
This book is the first significant published work on the Dunsmuir family of British Columbia. In almost pristine condition and signed by the author, it is a fine example of an important book on Dunsmuir history that can be used to tell the story of the Dunsmuir family and the life of James Audain.
