Professor Norman Duncan was an author, journalist and educator. He got his education in the University of Toronto, graduated from it in 1895. From 1897 to 1901 Duncan worked as a journalist in ‘The New York Evening Post’. In 1902, he became a professor of rhetoric at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. He held this position until 1906, when he became adjunct professor of English literature at the University of Kansas. Duncan travelled to Newfoundland and Labrador, and tips from these journeys he used as a setting for some of his books, including ‘Doctor Luke of the Labrador’ a novel featuring a thinly-veiled Wilfred Grenfell as its protagonist. From 1907 to 1908 he was correspondent of Harper's Magazine in Syria, Palestine, Arabia and Egypt. Duncan published over 20 books, including short stories, novels, and travel journalism. Amongst his works are: ‘The Way of the Sea’, ‘Dr. Grenfell's Parish: The Deep Sea Fishermen’, ‘Every Man for Himself’, ‘The Adventures of Billy Topsail’, ‘The Cruise of the Shining Light’, ‘The Best of a Bad Job’ and ‘Harbor Tales Down North’.