The tragic death of Wilson Duff at the age of 51, cut short the life of one of the leading experts on the arts and cultures of native peoples of the Northwest Coast. An anthropology professor at the University of B.C., his death, by his own hand, terminated his uncommonly perceptive research into the philosophy and psychology of Native art. Bird of Paradox consists of unpublished works by Duff which present his unique theoretical ideas that contribute to art scholarship, as well as creative writings and poetry which expose his emotional experiences with and feelings toward Native art and culture. Editor E. N. Anderson has provided detailed introductory material recounting Duff's life and work, and puts Duff's final contributions in the context of Northwest coast life.