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U of T Libraries exhibit explores enduring strength of CanLit community

A view of the Interior of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book library looking up toward the ceiling
A new exhibition at U of T's Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library explores a cross-section of the CanLit scene, drawing from the library鈥檚 archival collections from pre-Confederation up to today (photo by Dominic Ali)

Think Canadian literature and chances are Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood comes to mind. The 狐狸视频 alumna and towering Canadian literary figure gained worldwide recognition in 1985 with the publication of The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale.

Yet, a new exhibition at the U of T鈥檚 Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library&苍产蝉辫;鈥 &苍产蝉辫;鈥 reveals that CanLit is more than just its most famous writers. Curated by archivist Natalya Rattan and librarian John Shoesmith, the exhibit is on until May 1 and explores a cross-section of the CanLit scene, drawing from the library鈥檚 archival collections from pre-Confederation up to today.

The exhibition presents the life cycle of a work&苍产蝉辫;鈥 from progress to publication&苍产蝉辫;鈥 and highlights the community that has given shape to CanLit, a rich network of authors, editors, publishers, illustrators, publicists, agents, booksellers and donors. Rather than exhibiting a deep dive of the Fisher鈥檚 considerable CanLit archives, Rattan and Shoesmith chose to display a few strengths while seeking to uncover new insights within the journals, letters and notebooks of the community.

In the process, several gems emerged. 

鈥淲e discovered so many unique items and knowledge within the collections themselves,鈥 Rattan says.

One example is the collaboration between artist Alan Stein and poet P.K. Page for her 鈥淗ow to Write a Poem鈥漣n the book The Golden Lilies: Eight New Glosas, which was produced in an edition of only 50 copies. The sketches, charcoal drawing and wood engraving for the ultimate image which accompanies the poem are part of the exhibit.

The exhibition also features personal items from CanLit icons, including a surprising letter by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of the Anne of Green Gables novels, claiming she has grown tired of Anne. In another letter, Book of Negroes author Lawrence Hill writes to his father, making a plea to get a kitten. As well, there is correspondence between the popular fiction author Arthur Hailey and renowned novelist Robertson Davies, in which Davies reassures Hailey of his legitimacy as a writer with an enormous international readership. Materials on CanLit luminaries like Susanna Moodie and Leonard Cohen are also on display.

Still, what would an exhibit on CanLit be without Atwood? Fans of The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale and the television series based upon it have a rare chance to see for themselves in person the first handwritten draft of the dystopian novel, as well as other materials that reveal the creative and commercial processes of Atwood鈥檚 work, including early test shots of actor Elisabeth Moss in costume for the television production.

 

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