To Paris Never Again

by Al Purdy

To Paris Never Again is Purdy's first collection of new writing 's since 1994: fifty-one poems plus "Home Country," an essay of nostalgic anecdotes that provides a facinating background to much of the poetry. Here is the work of a major poet in the maturity of a long, eventful life, a voice steeped in the wisdom of age, yet responsive to the subtlest shadings of experience.

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Alfred Wellington Purdy was one of the most popular and important Canadian poets of the 20th century. Purdy's writing career spanned more than fifty years. His works include over thirty books of poetry; a novel; two volumes of memoirs and four books of correspondence. He has been called the nation's "unofficial poet laureate".

Born in Wooler, Ontario Purdy went to Albert College in Belleville, Ontario, and Trenton Collegiate Institute in Trenton, Ontario. He dropped out of school at 17 and rode the rails west to Vancouver. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Following the war, he worked in various jobs until the 1960s, when he was finally able to support himself as a writer, editor and poet.

Honours and awards Purdy received include the Order of Canada (O.C.) in 1982, the Order of Ontario in 1987, and the Governor General's Award, in 1965 for his collection The Cariboo Horses, and again in 1986 for The Collected Poems of Al Purdy. The League of Canadian Poets gave Purdy the Voice of the Land Award, a special award created by the League to honour his unique contribution to Canada.

Al Purdy died in North Saanich, B.C., on April 21, 2000. His final collection of poetry, Beyond Remembering: The Collected Poems of Al Purdy, was released posthumously in the fall of 2000.

On May 20, 2008, a large bronze statue of Purdy was unveiled in Queen's Park in downtown Toronto.

Reviews

[Idleprimate · Rating 3 out of 5]

they maybe aren't his best, but they are the reflective words of an aging genius, somewhat nostalgic, somewhat sad, frightened in places. it's an interesting peek inside a literary lion. the year this came out was also the year i finally got to meet him, so this book holds a special place in my heart

[THE TORONTO QUARTERLY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purdy's poem "Lament for Bukowski" is terrific!!

[Charlie O'Hay · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a later work of a powerful poet, this one stands up. Even in moments of melancholy, Purdy never loses the reins. We should all age as well as Purdy did.