Barefoot Gringo

George Bowering

Paperback

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Pre-order: Ships Jun 16th, 2026

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Bringing a seasoned and highly regarded Canadian voice to the travel writing tradition, George Bowering unveils a deep love of life, food, and all things Mexico. Drawing on his time spent as a foreigner in Latin America, Bowering traces his footsteps to linger on the joy found in the little things.

Barefoot Gringo, set against a Mexican backdrop, ventures beyond travel and into engaging discussions of literature, politics, the art of aging gracefully and humorously, and, of course, Bowering's life as a writer. With his classic tongue-in-cheek humour, Bowering reflects on his growth, both in his personal and professional life, poignantly capturing his passion and appreciation for those who surround him and the world he inhabits.

An anthem to Bowering's insatiable appetite for life, Barefoot Gringo provides snapshots of daily life in a small Mexican fishing village through Canadian eyes, rendering his memoir a love letter for travellers, writers, and long-time readers alike.

Book Details

Publisher: On Point Press
Publish Date: Jun 16th, 2026
Pages: 198
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00in - 0.00lb
EAN: 9780774890786
Categories: • Memoirs• Literary Figures• Special Interest - Literary

About the Author

Bowering, George: - George Bowering is a major Canadian literary figure and one of the most prolific writers in the country. In November 2002 he was appointed the first Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate. Born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, George Bowering came to prominence in the 1960s, first as a founding editor of TISH at UBC, publisher of his first book. His third book was published bilingually in Mexico by El Corno Emplumado. He lives in Vancouver and is professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University.

Praise for this book

"The book captures so much of George's deep love of the world, his appetite for living in it, and a profound joy and intelligence toward all he encounters, from the precious moments of interacting with the tiniest creatures he befriends, his joy in time spent with close friends, his observations and humorous take of the nastier side of human behavior to the grand displays of art, music, and literature ... it's all there."-- "Lee Trentadue, Galiano Island Books"

"George's final book is a devotional paean to the present that all acts of love create both within and among species ... In what George Bowering alleges to be his final book, he actually manages to capture his generously compassionate love of the world in the austere prose of his favorite literary stylist, Ernest Hemingway."

-- "Karl Siegler, longtime former publisher at Talonbooks"

"I was dazzled by Barefoot Gringo, the sly humor and playful language. The Melanie O'Brien take-down was one of the funniest set pieces I've read in years and had me almost falling out of my chair. His comments on Super Bowl Sunday and US football were brilliant. He nailed it perfectly. And I loved his meditation on then and now and where and when. Very funny. The book ends beautifully."-- "George Galt, author of Line Breaks: A Writing Life"

"Barefoot Gringo is delightful. Bowering is gregarious on the page, entertaining to follow, full of fun."-- "Jonathan Ball, author of Clockfire and Last Breeds"

"Longtime readers of Bowering will likely find themselves in tears by the memoir's conclusion."-- "Jason Wiens, Department of English, University of Calgary"