Sinclair Ross was born on a farm near Shellbrook, Canada, on January 22, 1908. He went on to spend much of his life in Saskatchewan, which also served as the setting for many of his stories. His parents divorced when he was seven years old, after which he and his mother became itinerant farmers, residing on several different farms for short periods of time. This period was formative in the author’s life, and his background as a farmer would later inform his writing. Ross also served in the Canadian Army from 1942 to 1945, the end of World War II, which influenced his world outlook. Upon being discharged, he moved to Montreal, Quebec. Ross died in 1996 from Parkinson’s Disease in a nursing home in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was buried in the town of Indian Head, Saskatchewan. A bronze statue, sculpted by Joe Fafard, was made in honor of Ross and has been erected near the site of his grave.

Ross wrote a total of four full-length novels and several collections of short stories during his lifetime—all the while being employed by The Royal Bank of Canada. In recognition of his significant contributions to Canadian literature, Ross was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1992.