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Recognition and RevelationShort Nonfiction Writings |
eBook Available
A critical edition of over fifty essays by Margaret Laurence about Canada and its land, peoples, politics, and literature.
Margaret Laurence, best known for her germinal novels set in the Canadian prairies, is one of the nation's most respected authors. She was also an accomplished essayist, yet today her nonfiction writing is largely unavailable and therefore little known. In Recognition and Revelation Nora Foster Stovel brings together Laurence's short nonfiction works, including many that have not previously been collected and some that have never before been published.
These works, including over fifty essays and addresses that span Laurence's writing career from the 1960s to the 1980s, reveal her passionate concern for Canadian literature and for the land and peoples of Canada. Based on extensive archival research, Stovel's introduction contextualizes Laurence's nonfiction writings in her life as a creative artist and political activist and as a woman writing in the twentieth century. The texts range from essays on Laurence's own writings and on other works of Canadian literature to autobiographical essays, several focusing on environmental concerns, to sociopolitical essays and writing advocating for peace and nuclear disarmament.
By revealing Laurence as a socially and politically committed artist, this collection of lively and provocative essays illuminates the undercurrents of her creative writing and places her fiction - often informed by her nonfiction writing - in a new light.
These works, including over fifty essays and addresses that span Laurence's writing career from the 1960s to the 1980s, reveal her passionate concern for Canadian literature and for the land and peoples of Canada. Based on extensive archival research, Stovel's introduction contextualizes Laurence's nonfiction writings in her life as a creative artist and political activist and as a woman writing in the twentieth century. The texts range from essays on Laurence's own writings and on other works of Canadian literature to autobiographical essays, several focusing on environmental concerns, to sociopolitical essays and writing advocating for peace and nuclear disarmament.
By revealing Laurence as a socially and politically committed artist, this collection of lively and provocative essays illuminates the undercurrents of her creative writing and places her fiction - often informed by her nonfiction writing - in a new light.
Details
Part of the Carleton Library Series (number 251 in series)
400 Pages, 6 x 9
ISBN 9780228003465
September 2020
Formats: Cloth, Paperback, eBook
"In collecting all these essays, Stovel provides a sweeping and comprehensive look at an iconic Canadian writer which hasn't been previously available." David Staines, University of Ottawa
"We have long needed such an edition of Laurence's uncollected essays and speeches, to make this important aspect of her oeuvre available to both scholars and the general public. Selecting among all these for a single volume is a daunting project, which Nora Foster Stovel has judiciously accomplished." Carol Beran, Saint Mary's College of California
"Throughout the collection, Laurence's wry sense of humour, moral compass, and eye for the ridiculous and the subtly moving shine through. For anyone who loves her fiction, these writings will complement and deepen their relationship to one of our most important Canadian authors." Montreal Review of Books
"We have long needed such an edition of Laurence's uncollected essays and speeches, to make this important aspect of her oeuvre available to both scholars and the general public. Selecting among all these for a single volume is a daunting project, which Nora Foster Stovel has judiciously accomplished." Carol Beran, Saint Mary's College of California
"Throughout the collection, Laurence's wry sense of humour, moral compass, and eye for the ridiculous and the subtly moving shine through. For anyone who loves her fiction, these writings will complement and deepen their relationship to one of our most important Canadian authors." Montreal Review of Books
Margaret Laurence (1926-1987), the recipient of two Governor General's Literary Awards, was the author of The Stone Angel, A Jest of God, and The Diviners.
Nora Foster Stovel, professor emerita at the University of Alberta, has written and edited several books, including Divining Margaret Laurence: A Study of Her Complete Writings.
Nora Foster Stovel, professor emerita at the University of Alberta, has written and edited several books, including Divining Margaret Laurence: A Study of Her Complete Writings.
Chronology / xi
Foreword David Laurence / xv
Acknowledgments / xvii
Introduction: “A Natural-Born Reformer” / xix
Notes on the Text / xliii
PART ONE
Essays about Laurence’s Writing: “Gadgetry or Growing”
Sources (1970) / 3
Ten Years’ Sentences (1969) / 8
Time and the Narrative Voice (1972) / 15
Half War - Half Peace: A Writer’s Working Relationship with Publishers (n.d.) / 20
Gadgetry or Growing: Form and Voice in the Novel (1980) / 28
On “The Loons” (1993) / 38
Eye on Books: The Writer as Performer (n.d.) / 40
A Tale of Typewriters (1984) / 45
Ivory Tower or Grassroots? The Novelist as Socio-political Being (1978) / 50
PART TWO
Personal and Creative Essays: “The River Flows Both Ways”
Where the World Began (1972) / 63
Love and Madness in the Steel Forest (1969) / 69
Upon a Midnight Clear (1974) / 74
Don’t Whisper Sudden; I Scare Easy (1969) / 80
The River Flows Both Ways (1971) / 87
Salute of the Swallows (1971) / 92
The Shack (1974) / 97
A Fantasy Fulfilled (n.d.) / 101
The More Interesting Country (n.d.) / 104
Down East (1971) / 114
Journey from Lakefield (n.d.) / 119
PART THREE
Essays on Canada and Canadian Literature: “The Case for Canadian Literature”
Canadian Novels: Change in the Past Decade (1967) / 127
Canada Still Too Canada-Focused (1966) / 137
Voices from Future Places (1972) / 143
The Case for Canadian Literature (1977) / 150
Canadian Writers: From Neglect to Special Treatment (1970) / 154
When You Were Five and I Was Fourteen (1985) / 158
Books That Mattered to Me (1981) / 161
(a) Introductions to New Canadian Library Editions
Afterword to Sinclair Ross, The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories (1968) / 173
Introduction to Jack Ludwig, Above Ground (1973) / 178
Introduction to Percy Janes, House of Hate (1976) / 184
Introduction to Adele Wiseman, Crackpot (1978) / 189
(b) Unpublished Speeches and Tributes
W.L. Morton - A Tribute (1981) / 199
Tribute to Malcolm Ross (1982) / 201
Clara Thomas … Biographer, Teacher, Critic … and Pioneer (1984) / 203
Lois Wilson (1984) / 207
For Marian Passmore Engel (1986) / 210
Madeleine Wilkie Dumont (n.d.) / 212
YWCA Woman of the Year Award (1985) / 214
PART FOUR
Essays on Nuclear Disarmament: “The Most Pressing Practical, Moral, and Spiritual Issue of Our Times”
A Message to the Inheritors (n.d.) / 221
A Matter of Life or Death (1982) / 226
The Artist Then, Now, and Always (1984) / 231
A Statement of Faith (1982) / 234
“Peace”: A Word’s Meaning (1986) / 239
Operation Dismantle (1982) / 242
My Final Hour (1983) / 246
PART FIVE
Socio-political Essays: “Listen, Just Listen”
“Listen, Just Listen” (1977) / 259
Quebec’s “Freedom” Is a Vital Concern, but Freedom Itself Is That and More (1978) / 265
Open Letter to the Mother of Joe Bass (1968) / 268
The Greater Evil: Pornography or Censorship? (1984) / 272
Statement - pen (1985) / 280
A Constant Hope: Women in the Now and Future High Tech
Age (1985) / 283
Afterword: Rediscovering Margaret Laurence Aritha van Herk / 291
Annotations / 297
Works Cited / 325
Index / 335
Foreword David Laurence / xv
Acknowledgments / xvii
Introduction: “A Natural-Born Reformer” / xix
Notes on the Text / xliii
PART ONE
Essays about Laurence’s Writing: “Gadgetry or Growing”
Sources (1970) / 3
Ten Years’ Sentences (1969) / 8
Time and the Narrative Voice (1972) / 15
Half War - Half Peace: A Writer’s Working Relationship with Publishers (n.d.) / 20
Gadgetry or Growing: Form and Voice in the Novel (1980) / 28
On “The Loons” (1993) / 38
Eye on Books: The Writer as Performer (n.d.) / 40
A Tale of Typewriters (1984) / 45
Ivory Tower or Grassroots? The Novelist as Socio-political Being (1978) / 50
PART TWO
Personal and Creative Essays: “The River Flows Both Ways”
Where the World Began (1972) / 63
Love and Madness in the Steel Forest (1969) / 69
Upon a Midnight Clear (1974) / 74
Don’t Whisper Sudden; I Scare Easy (1969) / 80
The River Flows Both Ways (1971) / 87
Salute of the Swallows (1971) / 92
The Shack (1974) / 97
A Fantasy Fulfilled (n.d.) / 101
The More Interesting Country (n.d.) / 104
Down East (1971) / 114
Journey from Lakefield (n.d.) / 119
PART THREE
Essays on Canada and Canadian Literature: “The Case for Canadian Literature”
Canadian Novels: Change in the Past Decade (1967) / 127
Canada Still Too Canada-Focused (1966) / 137
Voices from Future Places (1972) / 143
The Case for Canadian Literature (1977) / 150
Canadian Writers: From Neglect to Special Treatment (1970) / 154
When You Were Five and I Was Fourteen (1985) / 158
Books That Mattered to Me (1981) / 161
(a) Introductions to New Canadian Library Editions
Afterword to Sinclair Ross, The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories (1968) / 173
Introduction to Jack Ludwig, Above Ground (1973) / 178
Introduction to Percy Janes, House of Hate (1976) / 184
Introduction to Adele Wiseman, Crackpot (1978) / 189
(b) Unpublished Speeches and Tributes
W.L. Morton - A Tribute (1981) / 199
Tribute to Malcolm Ross (1982) / 201
Clara Thomas … Biographer, Teacher, Critic … and Pioneer (1984) / 203
Lois Wilson (1984) / 207
For Marian Passmore Engel (1986) / 210
Madeleine Wilkie Dumont (n.d.) / 212
YWCA Woman of the Year Award (1985) / 214
PART FOUR
Essays on Nuclear Disarmament: “The Most Pressing Practical, Moral, and Spiritual Issue of Our Times”
A Message to the Inheritors (n.d.) / 221
A Matter of Life or Death (1982) / 226
The Artist Then, Now, and Always (1984) / 231
A Statement of Faith (1982) / 234
“Peace”: A Word’s Meaning (1986) / 239
Operation Dismantle (1982) / 242
My Final Hour (1983) / 246
PART FIVE
Socio-political Essays: “Listen, Just Listen”
“Listen, Just Listen” (1977) / 259
Quebec’s “Freedom” Is a Vital Concern, but Freedom Itself Is That and More (1978) / 265
Open Letter to the Mother of Joe Bass (1968) / 268
The Greater Evil: Pornography or Censorship? (1984) / 272
Statement - pen (1985) / 280
A Constant Hope: Women in the Now and Future High Tech
Age (1985) / 283
Afterword: Rediscovering Margaret Laurence Aritha van Herk / 291
Annotations / 297
Works Cited / 325
Index / 335
9780773545960
$115.00 CAD
Cloth
