Q&A: Jane Crosbie saw it all ... and she wrote it down. John Crosbie's widow publishes memoir
CBC
John Crosbie — the larger-than-life politician who dominated public affairs for decades in Newfoundland and Labrador and indeed a lot of Canada — made no secret of the fact he had a special power helping him through his political career.
That was his wife, Jane Crosbie, who has just released her early diaries in a new memoir.
The book has an intriguing title: The Horse Doctor's Daughter: The Early Diaries of Jane Crosbie.
It's not an analytical memoir. It is a diary in every sense, with short, sharp entries that cover the mundane. For example: "Friday, Sept 6, 1968: Got hair done at 9:30, then worked like a dog for tonight. Ches vacuumed. Perfect day."
There are also some juicier entries, too.
"Friday, Sept. 27, 1968: John showing friends his reply to Joey. If this is a success it will be the third time John made Joey eat shit. I'll send that letter on Monday."
Jane Crosbie suffered a stroke in 2020 so she's unable to read the book she just published. But she's certainly able to talk about it despite a slight speech impediment.
Following is my conversation with Jane Crosbie, which has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: You have written this book, The Horse Doctor's Daughter. I find it interesting because it doesn't say "John Crosbie's wife." It's "the horse doctor's daughter." Why that title?
A: I used to follow my father around when I was a little girl. [Someone asked] who's that little girl? And they said, "Oh, that's the horse doctor's daughter." They didn't know what a veterinary surgeon was.
The book is interesting because you have all kinds of diary entries from 1966 right into the '80s. One of the entries I read was on May 1, 1966. The entry is very simple. You say, "John raked the lawn and decided to run for the Liberals."
He had been elected as deputy mayor [of St. John's] and Joey discovered that he was a vote-getter. He decided to run because he wanted to get in politics. I was very upset about that. John thought women were seen and not heard and I hated Joey. I really did.
Later John would also dislike Joey quite a bit, but not in the beginning?
No, he didn't. He had these wild ideas, according to John.
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