Canadian Writers in 1984 is a special double length,hardback edition of the 100th issue of Canadian Literature. The booknot only celebrates a publishing landmark in the history of the journalbut also reflects the incredible richness of Canada’s contemporaryliterary scene. The collection features the work of outstanding newwriters as well as poems and essays written especially for this issueby Canada’s most famous poets, novelists, dramatists, andessayists.
Among the 29 essayists are Matt Cohen, Timothy Findley, Naim Kattan,Irving Layton, Dorothy Livesay, Eli Mandel, Jane Rule, Aritha Van Herk,and George Woodcock. The writings exhibit a diversity of styles andthemes: Margaret Laurence on war and peace, Eric Nicol on commercialwriting, Marian Engel on starting a new novel, James Reaney onregionalism, David Watmough on places, and David Helwig on arguing withGod.
The poets comprise a virtual “Who’s Who” in Canadianpoetry today: Margaret Atwood, Bill Bissett, Barry Dempster, JoyKogawa, Dennis Lee, George McWhirter, Susan Musgrave, Michael Ondaatje,Al Purdy, Robin Skelton, Raymond Souster, and Tom Wayman are among over60 of the poets represented.
Prefaces to the book have been contributed by Governor GeneralEdward Schreyer; Dr. George Pederson, President of the University ofBritish Columbia; and Canada’s grand man of letters, MavorMoore.