George Woodcock's Introduction to Canadian Fiction

W.J. Keith is a retired professor of English at the University of Toronto and author A Sense of Style: Studies in the Art of Fiction in English-Speaking Canada.

Between 1983 and 1992, ECW Press produced an ambitious 20-volume set of
books entitled Canadian Writers and Their Works—10 devoted to
novelists, 10 to poets. Each generally contained four or five essays by
literary scholars devoted to single authors. And George Woodcock
produced introductions to each volume that offered a considered overview
and drew various strands together.

As I remarked more than once while reviewing some of these productions,
Woodcock’s discussions, though brief, often constituted the most
impressive parts of an individual volume. Sometimes, indeed, with a
combination of firmness and courtesy, he quietly qualified the
extravagant findings of the contributors. It is therefore appropriate
that Jack David and Robert Lecker should have had the bright idea of
recycling Woodcock’s introductions, bringing them together in the two
books under review.

But the chapters in these books are not merely recyclings of the
earlier material. Woodcock has now written short introductions to what
were themselves introductions, and has expanded some of the originals to
draw attention to writers not treated in the volumes as first issued. He
has also made minor revisions in the interests of continuity. As a
result, we now have two sensitive, stimulating surveys that provide
ideal entrées to their subjects. Although signs of their original
function occasionally show through, the surprising thing is the extent
to which these essays flow smoothly and make up a coherent book.

The titles need emphasizing: these are George Woodcock’s
introductions. They present one man’s view and, because the man
himself is remarkable, they communicate a personal vision, which is in
many respects as important as the insights he provides into the works of
others. So these volumes, despite being for the most part reprints of
previously available material, are to be welcomed.

Finally, three minor complaints: the omission of writers as notable as
Austin Clarke, Don Coles, and George Johnston; the absence of indices;
and the failure to add the words “in English” to both titles.