New book about Nova Scotia giant from CBU Press
Biography of Anna Swan for young readers to be launched May 18 in Tatamagouche
One of Nova Scotia’s most famous people is the subject of a long-overdue book. Anna Swan (1846-1888), a native of Colchester County, was billed by P.T. Barnum’s America Museum as “The Nova Scotia Giant Girl.”
The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, by Montreal writer Anne Renaud, is the first full-length book on the life of Ms. Swan – whose remarkable story is often eclipsed by another famous giant, Scots-born Angus MacAskill.
Anna Swan grew to an astonishing size – nearly 2.5 metres (almost 8 feet) tall. Despite her unusual and challenging physical attributes, she rose above adversity and led a life of love, happiness and great accomplishments.
Anne Renaud is the author of several picture books, as well as historical non-fiction books for children, including, A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival and Pier 21: Stories from Near and Far. Her work has been nominated for several awards, including the Silver Birch Award, the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award and the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s & Young Adult Literature. Anne is also a regular contributor to children’s magazines.
The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan is targeted toward young readers 9-11 years.
The book will be officially launched at the Creamery Square Heritage Centre in Tatamagouche at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday May 18.
There will be a second reading and opportunity to meet the author at 2:30 in the afternoon.
On Friday (May 17) Anne Renaud will visit students at Truro Elementary and Bible Hill Central schools.
Everyone is welcome.