Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada

Canada’s rich, diverse literary heritage has long attracted widespread recognition, and in recent years Canadian writers have won nearly every major international literary award. The breadth and sophistication of Canada’s literature demands precisely the kind of critical reflection that W.H. New’s comprehensive Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada now offers to readers.

This up-to-date reference book brings together 300 leading Canadianists to look at literature in Canada from a variety of perspectives. In over 2000 entries, acknowledging Canada’s cultural plurality, the Encyclopedia discusses literature in English and French, and also in such other languages as Yiddish, Spanish, Haida and Cree; authors and their work; related literary and social issues; professional institutions that play a role in the lives of Canadian writers; and the major historical and cultural events that have shaped Canada.

The unique richness of this work is also reflected in the breadth of other entries. Among them are commentaries on humour and satire, genre (including radio drama and the long poem), social history, film, television and popular culture, literary awards, language, critical theory, the oral literatures of the First Nations, petroglyphs, the publishing industry, journalism, gender, race, religion, region, myth, and class.

Extensive cross-referencing, a cultural chronology, supplementary index, and suggestions for further reading make this encyclopedia the most complete and accessible reference guide to Canadian literature in print. Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada will be an essential resource for scholars, writers, and readers for years to come.