Reading Mavis Gallant

by Janice Kulyk Keefer

This book examines the nature and scope of the work of Mavis Gallant, the noted Canadian short story writer and novelist, who delights readers with the elegance and authority of her prose while disconcerting them with the sharp edge of her vision. Examining her fiction, journalism, and work
in the theatre, Keefer explores her preoccupation with "the prison of childhood," and the constricted world of women, as well as her continual concern with the function of memory. Keefer also focuses closely on both the rewards and the problems that readers encounter in any sustained engagement with
Gallant's work, raising important questions about the nature of contemporary fiction and Gallant's unique Canadian perspective.

244 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 1989

About the author

She is a Canadian novelist and poet.

Born in Toronto, she studied literature at universities in England and France. She teaches literature and theatre in the graduate studies department at the University Of Guelph.

Of Ukrainian heritage, Janice often writes about the experiences of first-generation Canadian children of immigrants. Her sister is the Canadian artist, Karen Kulyk.