Canadian Literary Landmarks

Joan McGrath is a Toronto Board of Education library consultant.

Colombo, the indefatigable list-maker and anthologist, has come up with an absolutely irresistible title in his Canadian Literary Landmarks. Surely no literate Canadian adult will be able to withstand the temptation to turn to the section dealing with his or her own neck of the woods, to discover all its arcane literary associations and significance. And this volume, once opened, is one not easily closed.

Here are listed birthplaces and burial sites of the literary great ones, monuments and markers that inspired creative works, and the focal points of literary pilgrimage in Canada. Three dozen “top literary locales” are singled out for special attention, as being in themselves “worth a journey.” Lots of photographs, line drawings, and stills from motion pictures enliven the very readable text. The contents are listed by province, and there is as well a comprehensive index. Browsing material par excellence.