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The Parkhurst Gang: Vignettes From a Childhood in Leaside

by David Godbold

157 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #07-2918; ISBN 1-4251-6360-2; US$20.95, C$20.95, EUR14.31, £10.82

The Parkhurst Gang, an amusing, firsthand account of a childhood in Leaside, Ontario during the war, depicts a gentler life, now lost, but not forgotten. A trip down memory lane.

About the Book

The Parkhurst Gang is set in the context of the small urban Ontario community of Leaside, near Toronto, during the war years when rationing of everyday items was the norm. It is a whimsical, and often amusing firsthand acccount of the experiences and activities of three young cousins, their pals and their families, as they go about their daily lives. These vignettes and stories are derived from the author's own memory, and occur, both in city and country.

Life during this period was less frenetic and, one might say, more gentle, but still presented its challenges. These are examined and recorded in an entertaining, narrative fashion that will appeal to young and old alike. The social mores and prejudices of that era, treated in a sensitive and educational fashion, will surely jog the memory of older readers, while revealing to the young, an environment and way of life unknown to them.

Various technologies which we take for granted today, were then nonexistent, and any advancements and benefits to the civilian population, were stalled for a period of years surrounding the war. The author's descriptions of the basic elements of living and of children's life experiences duing these times, are provided in a rich, descriptive manner, true to their historical context. The variety of locales, and the situations involving the main characters, offer a vivid and moving account as well as a glimpse of a world now lost, which will have the reader asking, "What's next?"

About the Author

Born several years before WWII, the author spent his first twenty years in the fledgling town of Leaside, near Toronto, Ontario.

David developed his love of the outdoors and of nature from the experiences and influences of those early years in the urban/rural mix of Leaside and while on vacation at the lake, and in the countryside. He continues to pursue his passions of hunting and fishing in the northern woods and lakes, while enjoying gardening at home.

After graduating from Leaside High School, and following several years of college, David went into private business. His principal business career was with a major telecommunications company within Ontario, Quebec, and New York City. He retired after thirty–three years.

David has always been a voracious reader and his favourite topics are: courtroom drama, historical, and crime novels. His own remarkable memory of the past, and his interest in writing generally, gave him the incentive to record some of his early life experiences. This is his first novel. He presently resides with his wife, in Ottawa