Charles Torville

Who was Charles Torville? Mystic, poet, writer, farmer..... Here in these papers lies a fascinating portrait of a very unusual man. Born in England, he emigrated to Canada to eventually become a farmer. Not only did he weather the physical and financial storms of the 1930`s , but he prospered. He farmed and he wrote. One can imagine him filling in empty winter evenings with words, seeking to find the magical combination that would bring him fame and fortune through songs and poetry. He searched for personal truth through mystic and secret societies such as the Order of the Eagle and the Lily and the Mystic Brotherhood University. He left a literary in his writings. And he left a legacy of money for the English students here at the University of Regina to carry on his search for literary excellence. His own writings are not good. They are confused, distorted ramblings of a lonely man. Some of his songs surprisingly hold poignant appeal. Whether you catch a glimpse of life in England at the turn of the century, or experience the get-rich-quick lures of music publishers of the 1930`s the papers of Charles Torville add up to some very interesting reading.