Born in Hamilton, Ontario, and is descended from its first settler. He has written novels, biographies and other non-fiction books, on topics from the definitive biography of Canada's first novelist to a political-economic study of the automobile. He has returned from living abroad for many years to live closer to his roots. He has a PhD in economics.
Dr. Beasley's latest historical novel Sarah's Journey, about a slave who escaped from Virginia to Upper Canada in 1820, won the best novel award for 2004 presented by the Hamilton and Region Arts Council.
For Dr. Beasley's new work, FROM BLOODY BEGINNINGS; RICHARD BEASLEY'S UPPER CANADA, an exciting creative non-fiction, please press SYNOPSIS.
All Titles Listed Below
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BEASLEY'S GUIDE TO LIBRARY RESEARCH
THE CANADIAN DON QUIXOTE; THE LIFE AND WORKS OF MAJOR JOHN RICHARDSON, CANADA’S FIRST NOVELIST
CHOCOLATE FOR THE POOR; A STORY OF RAPE IN 1805
DOUGLAS MACAGY AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN ART CURATORSHIP
ÉCARTÉ; or THE SALONS OF PARIS
FRASCATI'S; OR SCENES IN PARIS
FROM BLOODY BEGINNINGS; RICHARD BEASLEY'S UPPER CANADA
THE GRAND CONSPIRACY: A NEW YORK LIBRARY MYSTERY
HAMILTON ROMANCE: A HAMILTON-TORONTO NEXUS
THE JENNY: A NEW YORK LIBRARY DETECTIVE NOVEL
MAJOR JOHN RICHARDSON: SHORT STORIES
MCKEE RANKIN AND THE HEYDAY OF THE AMERICAN THEATER
THE MONK KNIGHT OF ST JOHN; A TALE OF THE CRUSADES
PAGAN SUMMER
Richard Beasley and Early Days on Burlington Heights & The Political Education of Richard Beasley
RICHARD BEASLEY; THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN AND HIS TIMES
RICHARD BEASLEY AND THE GERMAN COMPANIES
SARAH’S JOURNEY
THROUGH PAPHLAGONIA WITH A DONKEY: AN ADVENTURE IN THE TURKISH ISFENDYARS
UNDERSTANDING MODERN ART: THE BOUNDLESS SPIRIT OF CLAY EDGAR SPOHN
The Watercolours of Charlotte Hills Beasley
WESTBROOK, THE OUTLAW; OR THE AVENGING WOLF
WHO REALLY INVENTED THE AUTOMOBILE? SKULDUGGERY AT THE CROSSROADS
UPCOMING EVENTS
From Bloody Beginnings; Richard Beasleyʼs Upper Canada [Simcoe: Davus Publishing, 2008] 388 pages. $15.95. 53 illus. 5 in colour.
ISBN: 978-0-915317-24-02008
Sunday Sept 28, 10.30 to 5 Word on the Street. - Kitchener. Victoria Park, Jubilee Drive.
Sunday, Oct 5, Book launch, 1 to 4, talk at 2 p.m. Joseph Brant Museum, 1240 North Shore Blvd East, Burlington, ON [1888-748-5386]
Wednesday, Oct 8, 7.30 p.m. Talk to Dundas Historical Society, Dundas Museum, 139 Park St W, Dundas
Saturday, Oct 18, 10 to 4. Lowville United Church, 5800 Guelph Line at Britannia Rd, Lowville.
Sunday, Oct 26, Book launch 2 to 4 p.m. Norfolk Arts Centre 21 Lynnwood Ave, Simcoe [519-428-0540]
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7.30 p.m. Talk at Park House Museum, Amherstburg
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. Talk to Dunnville Historical Society, Dunnville Public Library, Dunnville
Sat Dec 6 and Sun Dec 7, all day, Dickens Craft Show, the Aud, Norfolk County Fair Grounds,Simcoe
Sat, Dec 13, Sun, Dec 14, 12 to 6 Artisans Gift Show. Transac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto. Featuring The Watercolours of Charlotte Hills Beasley. Also on Dec 20, 21
2009
Sat. Feb 7, lunch, United Empire Loyalists, St Davidʼs Church, 49 Donland Ave, Toronto
April 27, 7.30 p.m. Ancaster Historical Society, Old Town Hall, Ancaster.
This book can be ordered HERE through Paypal
BOOK LAUNCHING
FROM BLOODY BEGINNINGS: RICHARD BEASLEYʼS
UPPER CANADA by David Richard Beasley.
Friends: You are invited to a book launch at the Joseph Brant House Museum in Burlington on Sunday October 5 between 1 to 4 p.m. David Beasley will speak briefly at 2 p.m. on his book which covers events from the landlord rebellions in New York State, through the American Revolution, the War out of Fort Niagara, settlement in Upper Canada, the War of 1812, the reform movement, the rebellion to the Union of the Canadas in 1841. Richard Beasley, 1761-1842, narrates the involvement of his family such as Henry Beasley and Richard Cartwright Sr and Jr and others such as Joseph Brant, St. John Rousseau, George Hamilton, Robert Gourlay, Rev Jock Strachan, William Claus and John Beverley Robinson. As a fur trader, first settler at the Head-of-the-Lake, commissary, land speculator, merchant, assemblyman (speaker), magistrate and militia colonel, Richard played many roles in the development of our country and was central to the action.
Joseph Brant Museum, 1240 North Shore Blvd East, Burlington, ON [1-888-748-5386] Refreshments
A later book launch will be held at the Norfolk Arts Centre in Simcoe on Sunday October 26 from 2-4 p.m.
Norfolk Arts Centre, 21 Lynnwood Ave, Simcoe [519-428-0540] Refreshments
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
David R. Beasley was born and schooled in Hamilton. After graduating from McMaster University with a B.A. in Literature and History, he lived in several European countries working, studying and writing for several years. He came to New York City where he taught school, worked as a research librarian in the New York Public Research Libraries, led the New York Library Guild, AFSCME Local 1930, and wrote books. He earned a masterʼs degree in Library Science and a PhD in political economy. He moved to Simcoe, Ontario in 1992 and continued to write and publish books. His biography, The Canadian Don Quixote; the life and works of Major John Richardson, Canadaʼs first novelist appeared in the 1970s to much acclaim. His historical novel, Sarahʼs Journey, about a slave who escapes with three small children from Virginia to Upper Canada [Simcoe] in 1820 won the best fiction award for Hamilton and Region. Among his books are Through Paphlagonia with a Donkey: an Adventure in the Turkish Isfendyars, Who Really Invented the Automobile? Skulduggery at the Crossroads, Hamilton Romance [about Hamilton society at the end of World War II], Understanding Modern Art: the Boundless Spirit of Clay Edgar Spohn, and Beasleyʼs Guide to Library Research [a revision of How to Use a Research Library]. Richard Beasley, the narrator of From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasleyʼs Upper Canada was Davidʼs ancestor. The idea of writing about Richard occurred to him when he was a boy, and, thus, more than twenty books later he has fulfilled his dream. His web site is
www.kwic.com/davus.David Beasley will speak to the Dundas Historical Society at the Dundas Museum on Wednesday October 8 at 7.30 p.m. about his new book and Richard Beasleyʼs relations to the Hatt Brothers, Abraham Markle, Rousseau and the Ancaster competition. Open to all.
BOOK PURCHASE LOCATIONS
All David Beasley's books are available for purchase at the Eva Brook Donly Museum, 109 Norfolk St S., Simcoe [closed Sunday and Monday], and at Davus Publishing, 150 Norfolk St. S., Simcoe, ON or by post [see order form] or by Paypal. A few titles are carried by Tan-Mar, Port Dover; Pharmasave, Whitehorse Plaza, Simcoe; the Book Factory, Canadian Tire Mall, Simcoe; Brian Prince Books, Westdale, Hamilton; Sparta Tea Room, Sparta; A Book Shoppe, Port Rowan; Brantford Historical Society, Brantford; Talking Leaves, Main St, Buffalo, NY; Secondhand Reader, 1419 Hertel, Buffalo, NY; Millworks, Paisley, ON. Libraries, please contact Coutts Information Services, Niagara Falls, ON [800-263-1686], Ontario Library Services Centre, Kitchener [800-265-3360]. Wholesalers such as Ingrams and Baker & Taylor take orders. His books may be ordered online through ALIBRIS as well."
David Beasley's curiosity over the origin of the word "curious" gets a response from Charles Hodgson
at: http://podictionary.com/?p=851