Jean Blewett

by George J. Dance

Jean Blewett (November 4, 1872 - August 19, 1934) was a Canadian poet.

Life
She was born Jean McKishnie in Scotia, Ontario, to John and Janet (MacIntyre) McKishnie (both originally from Argyllshire, Scotland. She was related, through her mother, to the Gaelic poet Duncan Ban MacIntyre.

She was educated at the St. Thomas Collegiate Institute. She married Bassett Blewett in 1889.

She published a novel, Out of the Depths, in 1890, and her first book of poetry, Heart Songs, in 1897.

Writing
Globe magazine called her a “woman’s poet” and described her verse as "an everyday sort of poetry, simple in theme and treatment, unpretentious, domestic, kindly, humorous and natural". It also called her the “most conspicuous example in Canada of the class of writers who try to bring the plain people into touch with the highest ideals.... Her lessons are of self-denial, and of the power of love to mould men and women.”

Recognition
She won a prize from the Chicago Times-Herald for her poem, "Spring."

She was awarded an International Poetry Prize in 1896. She was declared a Person of National Historic Significance in 1948.

Poetry

 * Heart Songs. Toronto: George N. Morang, 1897.
 * The Cornflower and other poems Toronto: William Briggs, 1906.
 * Jean Blewett's Poems. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1922.

Fiction

 * Out of the Depths (novel). 1886. 
 * Heart Stories (short fiction). Toronto: Warwick Bros. & Rutter, 1919.

'' Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy University of Toronto.   ''