Robert William Service

Robert William Service, known as "the Bard of the Yukon," was a prominent British-Canadian poet and writer who was born in Lancashire, England, on January 16, 1874.

After being raised in Scotland since he was five years old, Service went through a period of family separation before joining his expanding family.

His academic career took him to the University of Glasgow, where he graduated in the top four of his 200-person class in English Language and Literature. However, he left before earning his degree due to a serious disagreement with a lecturer.

As his father had done, Service first went into banking but, drawn by the thrill of the unknown, left to work as a cowboy in Canada in 1894. He worked in a variety of jobs along his voyage, moving from farmhand to banker in British Columbia.

The stories he heard during this period served as the inspiration for one of his best-known poems, "The Cremation of Sam McGee," which unintentionally launched him into the publishing industry. Service's creative output was further stimulated by the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, which spurred him to create "The Trail of Ninety-Eight."

He shaped his perception of the frontier experience by immersing himself in the colorful villages of gold seekers as he traveled along the Klondike River.

Following his marriage to Germaine Bourgoin in 1913, Robert William Service lived most of his life in France, with brief stays in Hollywood, California.

Even though Germaine would frequently find out about Service's wealth just a year into their marriage, he always kept a low profile and took inspiration for his writing from common people and places.

Up until his death on September 11, 1958, Service wrote a great deal, leaving a legacy of memoirs, novels, and poems. His writings, such as "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee," displayed authenticity and resonated with the spirit of the places he studied despite the occasional criticism from literary circles, establishing him as a unique voice in Canadian literature.

Early Life

The eldest of Robert Service's 10 children, Robert William Service, was born in Preston, Lancashire, England. When Robert was five years old, his father—a Scottish banker—moved the family to Kilwinning.

Robert, who his aunts and paternal grandfather raised, wrote his first poem, a thank yo, on his sixth birthday.

Service's parents moved to Glasgow, Scotland, when he was nine years old. Academically gifted, he attended esteemed Glasgow schools and finished his schooling at nearby Hillhead High School.

Robert William Service cultivated a lifelong love of poetry and reading during his time in school. Engrossed in reading, he discovered entertainment and adventure between the pages of books, which fueled his curiosity and desire to see more of the world.

He started in a variety of jobs, the first of which was at a shipping office that sadly closed. Later, he started working with his father at a Commercial Bank of Scotland branch in a suburban area.

Within this relatively light-duty banking position, Service frequently read works by authors such as Robert Browning, Lord Alfred Tennyson, and John Keats. He started writing professionally at the same time, and it is said that during this time, he sold his verses.

His enthusiasm and interest in poetry quickly led to a position in an English literature course at the University of Glasglow. Although he was the most intelligent student in the class, his professors were annoyed by his bravado and daring. He dropped out of the university a year later as a consequence of this.

Education

Robert William Service had a natural talent for writing. He received his schooling at several of Scotland's top universities, where his passion for writing and exploration grew concurrently.

He continued his literary endeavors in addition to joining the Commercial Bank of Scotland after graduating from high school. He started to study literature at Glasgow University because he appreciated writers such as Robert Browning, John Keats, and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

He was also inspired to write by Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson. His extensive travels, which included stops in Western Canada, Cuba, Louisiana, Alberta, Paris, and many other locations, were beneficial to his writing career.

Love Marriage and Affair

Robert William Service developed feelings for Constance MacLean while residing in Yukon. He was so in love that he told her so, but she was looking for a man who was educated and had a good job.

She so turned down his offer. After becoming successful, Service tried his luck once more but encountered the same callousness.

After launching a successful and prolific writing career, he got married to Germaine Bougeoin, a Frenchwoman, and made France his home in 1913. She never wavered until 1958, when he passed away.

Career

In 1895, he sailed to Western Canada with the intention of becoming a cowboy, fulfilling his long-held desire to explore his innermost thoughts and uncover his actual self. He had only brought a suitcase full of clothes, some funds, and a bank letter of recommendation on his journey to Montreal.

He traveled to Vancouver Island by train after arriving in Montreal. He realized his goal to become a cowboy there. The experience required working on a ranch and constantly interacting with colorful people.

He wandered from California to British Columbia as he made his way towards North America. Throughout the voyage, he worked multiple jobs.

He worked as a store clerk in 1899 while he was residing in Cowichan Bay, British Columbia. By coincidence, his love of poetry writing led to the publication of six of his pieces in the Victoria Daily Colonist by July 1900.

His written verses had a great reception, which inspired him to compose more. More of his writings, such as "Music in the Bush" and "The Little Old Log Cabin," were published in the Colonist during the next two years.

His Commercial Bank of Scotland letter of recommendation finally came in handy in 1903 when the Canadian Bank of Commerce hired him. He began his employment at the Victoria, British Columbia, branch of the bank.

He was transferred to the bank's branch in Kamloops, British Columbia, while he was employed there. He was then moved to the relatively new settlement of Whitehorse in the Yukon in 1904.

His love of poetry was unabated while he worked for the bank, and he kept producing verses. He composed the poems "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" during this period.

He had composed enough poetry by then for a book to be published. He gathered all of his creations and sent them to his father in Toronto.

His collection of songs, titled "Songs of a Sourdough," went on to become a huge hit. The book had an enormous demand and sold around 1700 copies prior to publication from galley proofs. The book was seven times printed prior to its official release date.

An edition of "Songs of a Sourdough" was released in New York, Philadelphia, and London as a result of the song's significant success. Through the book, he made $100,000.

He had worked for the bank for three years by then, and as was customary for bank personnel stationed in the Yukon, he was entitled to a mandated three-month paid leave.

He was moved to Dawson once he resumed work, where he got to know Gold Rush veterans. He was listening to the men's stories for quite some time. He used these memories to produce "Ballads of a Cheechako," his second book, in 1908. It was extremely successful, much like its predecessor.

He formally left his position at the bank in 1909. He then began working on The Trail of '98, his debut book. After being released by a New York publisher, the book quickly shot to the top of the bestseller list.

Thanks to the immense popularity of his printed works, he was able to travel to Paris, the French Riviera, and Hollywood.

In 1912, he went back to Dawson City to write "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone," his third collection of poetry.

After departing Dawson City in 1912, he worked as a Toronto Star journalist. He relocated to Paris the next year. Despite being turned down for military duty due to his varicose veins, he went on to work as an ambulance driver, war correspondent, and stretcher bearer.

He wrote "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man" in 1916 as a tribute to the troops who died in World War I. The next piece he created was "Ballads of a Bohemian," which he created five years later.

He wrote thriller books in the ensuing years, such as "The Poisoned Paradise," "A Romance of Monte Carlo," and "The Roughneck: A Tale of Tahiti." "Ballad of Lenin's Tomb" was released in the 1930s. He and his family moved to California during World War II. He portrayed himself in the 1942 film "The Spoilers," which also starred Randolph Scott, John Wayne, and Marlene Dietrich. He released six poetry collections between 1949 and 1955. He also penned two books of autobiography, Harper of Heaven and Ploughman of the Moon.

Yukon Period

Whitehorse is a frontier town on the Yukon River that was established in 1897 as a stopover for prospectors traveling to Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush. Whitehorse was only reached by the railway Robert William Service took, the White Pass and Yukon Route, in 1900.

Absorbing himself in the lively social scene of Whitehorse, Service was fascinated by the stories of the gold rush and was involved in many local affairs. He began reading aloud at concerts and finally met White, the editor of the Whitehorse Star, E. J. "Stroller" White, who suggested he write a poem for the railroad.

"The Shooting of Dan McGrew," Service's first poem, was inspired by the noises of a saloon. The next day, he crafted "The Cremation of Sam McGee" based on his recollections.

Subsequent verses such as "I have gazed on naked grandeur where there's nothing else to gaze on" and "The Call of the Wild" were also born from Service's imagination rather than personal experiences. These writings were a product of conversations with residents rather than direct observation.

Service arrived in the Klondike a decade after the Gold Rush, in 1908, when his reputation as a writer had already become well-established, but he still needed to step foot in Dawson City.

When Service had gathered sufficient poems for a book, he sent the collection to his father, who had relocated to Toronto, asking him to locate a printing company so the poems could be turned into a booklet.

The novel was well-received by the staff of William Briggs in Toronto, where his father brought the manuscript. A resourceful salesperson used galley proofs to sell 1700 books in advance orders. Robert received his check back from the publisher along with an offer of a 10 percent royalty deal for the book.

With a more Jack London-esque title, The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses in the United States, Service's book Songs of a Sourdough became an instant hit. Even before the official release date, it was printed seven times. In the end, Briggs in 1907 sold fifteen impressions.

An edition was held in Philadelphia, New York, and London in the same year. In 1910, T. Fisher Unwin, a publisher in London, produced a twenty-third printing, and by 1917, thirteen more.

Service chose to step down in 1909 when the bank requested that he take a managerial position back in Whitehorse. He left his work and started writing full-time, renting a modest two-room cabin on Dawson City's Eighth Avenue.

Immediately after becoming prosperous, Robert William Service commenced the writing of his book, "The Trail of '98," which swiftly gained immense popularity as a bestseller. Following his newfound wealth, he embarked on travels to various destinations, including Paris, the French Riviera, and Hollywood.

Returning to Dawson City in 1912, he composed "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone," his third collection of poems. During this time, Service joined Dawson's Yukon Lodge No. 45 and was initiated into freemasonry.

Later Life

Canadian poet and writer Robert Service departed Dawson City in 1912 to serve as a Toronto Star correspondent during the Balkan Wars. In 1913, he relocated to Paris and wed Germaine Bourgoin, a native of the city who passed away in Monte Carlo, Monaco, at the age of 102.

Service, who was 40 years old after World War I, applied for Service but was denied because of his varicose veins. He covered the war briefly for the Toronto Star, but during a wave of hysterics about espionage in Dunkirk, he was apprehended and almost put to death.

Prior to his health failing, Service worked for the American Red Cross Ambulance Corps as an ambulance driver and stretcher bearer. Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, a volume of war poetry he composed, was dedicated to his brother, Lieutenant Albert Service, a Canadian infantryman who was killed in action in August 1916 in France.

For his military Service, he was awarded the British military Medal, the Victory Medal, and the 1914-15 Star.

A Romance of Monte Carlo, The Poisoned Paradise, and The Roughneck are just a few of the suspense books that Service wrote in the 1920s. Afterwards, A Tale of Tahiti was adapted into silent films. Alongside British writers such as A. K. Bruce, Rex Ingram, Frank Harris, and Frieda Lawrence, he resided in Nice with his family.

Living in Hollywood and California during World War II, Service visited U.S. Army barracks to boost morale among soldiers and appeared in the film The Spoilers. Service and his spouse went back to Brittany after the war, where they restored their home and resided until his passing in 1958.

From 1947 until 1958, he resided in Monaco and wrote a great deal in his later years, penning six books of poetry and two volumes of autobiography.

Robert's William Service's Style

Robert's modest lifestyle and several odd jobs could not quench his love of books, even though he lived the life of a cowboy. Instead, it took shape when his well-received literary works brought him recognition on a global scale.

His relationship with notable literary people further hastened his writing career. He drew inspiration for his well-known characters from the colorful people he met while traveling around Europe and Vancouver Island.

Being a huge fan of Kipling's poetry, he adapted Kipling's style for most of his well-known poems, including "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Nearly all of his creations received positive reviews.

If measured by the literary standard, his several well-known works would be deemed mere doggerels due to his funny approach. He turned to analogies, symbolism, and imagery as literary methods. The majority of her writings have nature, death, sorrow, and companionship as recurring themes.

Robert Service's Influence on Future Writing

Robert Service made a significant contribution to world literature with his special talents. His ability to stay in love and his ability to accurately represent Canadian culture brought him widespread acclaim.

Both readers and critics praised him for his original concepts and striking writing style. It is said that his poetry has elevated him to the status of "The Bard of the Yukon," elevating him to a lofty pedestal.

Awards and Achievements

He received three medals for his involvement in the war: the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and the 1914-15 Star.

Interesting Facts About Robert William Service

• Born as the eldest among ten siblings, with seven brothers and three sisters.
• Demonstrated a childhood aversion to authority.
• Actively participated in his school's rugby team.
• Entered into a dispute with a college professor over a paper, leading to a declined challenge for a physical confrontation and ultimately resulting in Service's departure from the college.
• When deciding to return to college, I faced difficulties in passing entrance exams for both French and Algebra.
• Unable to enlist for military Service in World War I due to a varicose vein.
• Volunteered for the Red Cross with the specific intention of gaining firsthand experience on the front lines for writing.
• His literary work, "The Trail of Ninety-Eight," was adapted into a film in 1928.
• Made an appearance in the 1942 film titled "The Spoilers."
• The historical Yukon cabin where Service resided from November 1909 to June 1912 is now open for public visitation.
• Authored a total of six novels, two memoirs, and approximately 1,000 poems.

Conclusion

Robert William Service, widely recognized as "the Bard of the Yukon," led a life marked by diverse experiences, travels, and literary achievements.

Born in Lancashire, England, in 1874, he navigated a journey from Scotland to Canada, working various jobs before becoming a celebrated poet and writer. Service's early life, academic pursuits, and entry into the banking sector set the stage for a unique and prolific literary career.

His exploration of the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush profoundly influenced his creative output, resulting in iconic works like "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Service's ability to capture the essence of the frontier experience, combined with his vivid imagination and storytelling prowess, propelled him to literary stardom.

Service's personal life, including his marriage to Germaine Bourgoin and their years in France, added layers to his experiences and influenced his writing. Despite his success and financial affluence, Service maintained a down-to-earth approach, drawing inspiration from ordinary people and places.

His later life saw him contributing to war efforts during World War I, residing in various locations, and continuing to write prolifically. The legacy of Robert William's Service extends beyond his literary works, encompassing his impact on Canadian literature, his influential style, and his enduring nickname as "The Bard of the Yukon."

In the realm of literature, Robert William Service's poems and novels continue to captivate readers with their authenticity, humor, and exploration of the human spirit. His journey from a small town in England to the Yukon wilderness and beyond is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of a writer whose words have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.