The People of the Twilight

By Diamond Jenness

Book Overview

"The People of the Twilight" is a foundational work of Arctic ethnography and a vivid personal narrative by Diamond Jenness. Drawing from his experiences during the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-1918, Jenness provides an intimate look at the lives of the Copper Inuit in the Coronation Gulf region. The work details the daily struggles and triumphs of a people living on the edge of the habitable world, capturing a way of life that was soon to be irrevocably changed by contact with the outside world.

Jenness moves beyond mere scientific observation to offer a deeply human portrait of his hosts, documenting their traditions, social structures, and unique adaptations to the harsh Arctic environment. From the communal seal hunts to the storytelling traditions shared during long winter nights, "The People of the Twilight" serves as both a vital historical record and a compelling piece of travel literature. This narrative remains a classic in the field of anthropology, celebrated for its empathy, clarity, and the respect it accords to the Indigenous peoples of the North. It is an essential read for anyone interested in Arctic exploration, Indigenous cultures, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of nature's most demanding challenges.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025422279
• ISBN13: 9781025422275
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The People of the Twilight

Diamond Jenness was a New Zealand-born Canadian ethnologist who was assigned to a scientific expedition to Canada's arctic just prior to the First World War. The Inuit (of the Coronation Gulf region) that he encountered had yet to come into direct contact with the white man, and so for Jenness this was an opportunity to study truly "primitive" Inuits. So for nearly two years he lived as the adopted son of Ikpuck and "Icehouse". This memoir of his time with them is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of people whose lives were about to be drastically and tragically altered. Simply a great book.

A brief, compelling look at Eskimo life circa 1915

Pulled from a used book store shelf, this book certainly was worth exponentially more than the 75 cents I spent.Written in the 1920's, the book is an account of two years the author spent living with Eskimos from 1915 to 1917 in the far reaches of Canada. In a direct but never dry style the author describes his time spent travelling, hunting, and living with an Eskimo tribe. At the time the author encountered them, the "people of the twilight" were living much as they had for hundreds of years before the "white invasion."The book is remarkable for the absolute objectivity of the author, the unpretentious writing, and, given the time it was written - amazingly lacking any tone of cultural superiority. (For example, an account of infanticide by Eskimos is a particular frank, thoughtful, although disturbing discussion). The life he describes is a neverending search for food and shelter, one that in many ways, echoes from times primeval. Jennes sensed that he was viewing a culture about to undergo massive change. He recounts in a epilogue written in the 1950's, what the future brought was near annihilation of many Eskimo peoples through disease, and catastrophic cultural pressures. Despite his premonition, like the Eskimos who kept him alive, Jennes is able to focuses on the present clearly and without nostalgia.A book worth reading to understand a people who were indeed in the twilight.