Who's Who in Canadian Literature 1987-88

R. Gordon Moyles is professor emeritus of English at the University of
Alberta, co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities: British
Views of Canada, 1880–1914, and author of The Salvation Army and the
Public.

This third edition of Who’s Who in Canadian Literature is, like its predecessors, a very valuable quick-reference handbook, for the compilers have succeeded admirably in their attempt to “provide students and public with current and easily accessible detail about Canadian writers.” That detail consists of succinct and lucid information packages, arranged alphabetically, for more than a thousand “makers” of Canadian literature: poets, playwrights, short-story writers, novelists, writers of children’s books, editors, translators, and critics. Each package includes biographical data, followed by a brief, though fairly comprehensive, bibliography of primary works. And all this is preceded by excellent explanatory notes as well as a list of Governor General’s Award winners.

The information included in Who’s Who was collected primarily through questionnaires and should therefore be both accurate and up-to-date. Thankfully, the compilers had sense enough not to ask such questions as “What is your favourite pastime? or ice-cream?” — questions which result in a lot of silly puffing in some American biographical dictionaries. Ripley and Mercer have been both objective and judicious. My only criticism is that more literary critics should have been included — those who, like Sandra Djwa and Terry Goldie — are making significant contributions to the advancement of our literature. Perhaps next time.