George Melnyk Books

Exploring the intricate relationship between literature and identity, this memoir delves into the author's experiences as an Alberta writer across various genres. George Melnyk examines why certain works resonate more with readers than others, addressing the influence of reviews, cultural trends, and financial realities on creativity. As the first literary memoir from an Alberta writer, it provides a unique perspective on the literary landscape in western Canada, revealing the challenges and nuances of the writing profession.

Alberta's contradictory landscape has fired the imaginative energies of writers for centuries. The sweep of the plains, the thrust of the Rockies, and the long roll of the woodlands have left vivid impressions on all of Alberta's writers―both those who passed through Alberta in search of other horizons and those who made it their home. The Literary History of Alberta surveys writing in and about Alberta from prehistory to the middle of the twentieth century. It includes profiles of dozens of writers (from the earnestly intended to the truly gifted) and their texts (from the commercial to the arcane). It reminds us of long-forgotten names and faces, figures who quietly―or not so quietly―wrote the books that underpin Alberta's thriving literary culture today. Melnyk also discusses the institutions that have shaped Alberta's literary culture. The Literary History of Alberta is an essential text for any reader interested in the cultural history of western Canada, and a landmark achievement in Alberta's continuing literary history.