First published 1982
Robertson Davies assembles the literary voices that shaped Canada across four centuries. This annotated collection presents 40 writers through 200 pages of poetry and 350 pages of prose. The prose selections span short fiction, autobiographical pieces, literary criticism, and drama. Davies creates deliberate connections between the selections, linking writers through shared themes and critical reflections. The anthology includes introductions to each writer and detailed annotations that illuminate the works. Writers comment on other writers within the collection, creating a conversation across generations. The result offers readers both individual literary achievements and the broader context of Canadian literary culture from the eighteenth century forward.
Genres: literary-criticism, literary-fiction, anthologies, 20th-century, canadian-literature, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, intergenerational
Setting: Canada
Period: 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century
692 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press Canada