Classic CanLit Revival

Classic Canadian literature was a staple in my post-secondary education. When I first realized that taking "Introduction to Canadian Literature" was a prerequisite for my English lit degree, I was filled with doubt. Canadian literature doesn't exactly have a reputation for being exciting and page-turning. Thankfully, the classic Canadian lit I encountered completely dispelled those myths. My undergraduate classes focused on Canadian literature ended up covering my favourite topics. I have a special place in my heart for Canadian writers.

ECW Press contacted me about Douglas Gibson's The Storytellers Book Club, his attempt to revive classic Canadian literature. For those who don't know too much about Canadian publishing history, Douglas Gibson published and edited many of Canada's most famous writers. For The Storytellers Book Club, Gibson has prepared twenty questions about five Canadian fiction novels. As the editor for these books, Gibson's insights are completely unique and allow us a glimpse at the author-editor relationship.

This book club is inspired by Douglas Gibson's book Stories About Storytellers, a personal look at various iconic Canadian writers that Gibson has worked with during his esteemed publishing in career. As Alice Munro explains in the book's introduction: "[Doug Gibson] is their editor and their publisher. He tells us something about what they're like, catching them in dire, or proud, or funny moments, when they are preparing for, enduring, enjoying, or living down whatever limelight falls on them. He's the man who helped them get there." The book is a compelling look at very different writers as Gibson reflects on their process and personalities. Each chapter is paired with an illustration by Anthony Jenkins.

Gibson writes with a conversational flair, commenting on seemingly random events in the writers' lives. You can read about Robertson Davies' well-known beard and his compelling voice or how Alice Munro truly is the queen of mainstream short stories. Even if you're not familiar with some of the authors featured in Stories About Storytellers, you'll enjoy the anecdotes. Not to mention that the epilogue - "What Happens After My Book Is Published?" - should be required reading for everyone who wants to be a published writer.

To celebrate this revival of CanLit classics, ECW Press is giving away a set of all five books that are part of Gibson's Storytellers Book Club: Robertson Davies' What's Bred in the Bone, Hugh MacLennan's The Watch That Ends the Night, Mavis Gallant's Home Truths, Alistair MacLeod's No Great Mischief, and Alice Munro's The Progress of Love. Here's how you can enter the giveaway and participate in the book club: Read Stories About Storytellers as an introduction, then read one or more of the five selected novels. Share an online review of Doug's memoir and your chosen novel(s). For every review link you send to ECW Press (alexis@ecwpress.com), they will give you one entry to win a CanLit prize pack featuring all five novels and some new Canadian fiction.

This is a great activity for readers who want to experience some great Canadian literature or writers who want to gain some insight into the careers and personal lives of other writers.

Have you read any classic Canadian literature? Let's talk books in the comments!