Alistair MacLeod will forever be remembered as one of the great Canadian writers, and will be particularly remembered for his ability to evoke the landscape and people of Cape Breton Island. Exploring themes of family, geographic ties to the land, community and socioeconomic realities in Cape Breton, MacLeod vividly brought to life the stories of Cape Breton's people and their history.
MacLeod generated much critical acclaim for his writing. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award for his novel No Great Mischief, which was also voted Atlantic Canada's greatest book. In 2008, Alistair MacLeod was named to the Order of Canada for his contributions and commitment to Canadian literature and for his influence on other Canadian writers. MacLeod was also a long-time professor of creative writing at the University of Windsor, but returned to his cottage on Cape Breton each summer to write.
Our friends at IFOA have an audio clip from MacLeod's last public appearance at the 2013 International Festival of Authors, where MacLeod gave a touching tribute to his friend and fellow writer, Alice Munro. You can listen to the clip on the IFOA website.
Post new comment