Alistair MacLeod
Encyclopedia
Alistair MacLeod, OC
(born July 20, 1936 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
) is a noted Canadian
author and retired professor of English at the University of Windsor
.
, Inverness County
on Nova Scotia
's Cape Breton Island
. After completing high school, MacLeod attended the Nova Scotia Teachers College
and then taught public school. He studied at St. Francis Xavier University
between 1957 and 1960 and graduated with a BA and BEd. He then went on to receive his MA in 1961 from the University of New Brunswick
and his PhD in 1968 from the University of Notre Dame
. A specialist in British literature
of the nineteenth century, MacLeod taught English for three years at Indiana University before accepting a post in 1969 at the University of Windsor
as professor of English and creative writing. During the summer, his family resides near Inverness
on Cape Breton Island
, where he spends part of his time "writing in a cliff-top cabin looking west towards Prince Edward Island
."
and the 1986 As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories
. All of the stories in these two volumes along with his other published stories are included in MacLeod's 2000 collection Island
. Among other awards, Macleod won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
for his 1999 novel No Great Mischief
.
On December 4, 2009, MacLeod received the PEN/Malamud Award
for Short Fiction along with Amy Hempel
.
is also a writer, whose debut short story collection Light Lifting was a Scotiabank Giller Prize
finalist in 2010.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born July 20, 1936 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
) is a noted Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author and retired professor of English at the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
.
Academic career
When MacLeod was ten his family moved to a farm in DunveganDunvegan, Nova Scotia
Dunvegan is a small community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Inverness County on Cape Breton Island.The name is derived from Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.-References:*...
, Inverness County
Inverness County, Nova Scotia
Inverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
on Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
. After completing high school, MacLeod attended the Nova Scotia Teachers College
Nova scotia teachers college
The Nova Scotia Teachers College is a former university that was located in the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.Founded as the Provincial Normal School the college was established by an act of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, which received Royal Assent on March 31, 1854...
and then taught public school. He studied at St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
between 1957 and 1960 and graduated with a BA and BEd. He then went on to receive his MA in 1961 from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
and his PhD in 1968 from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. A specialist in British literature
British literature
British Literature refers to literature associated with the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. By far the largest part of British literature is written in the English language, but there are bodies of written works in Latin, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Manx, Jèrriais,...
of the nineteenth century, MacLeod taught English for three years at Indiana University before accepting a post in 1969 at the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
as professor of English and creative writing. During the summer, his family resides near Inverness
Inverness, Nova Scotia
Inverness is a Canadian rural community in Inverness County, Nova Scotia. In 2001 its population was 2,496.Located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island fronting the Gulf of St...
on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, where he spends part of his time "writing in a cliff-top cabin looking west towards Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
."
Published works
MacLeod's published works include the 1976 short story collection The Lost Salt Gift of BloodThe Lost Salt Gift of Blood
The Lost Salt Gift of Blood is a collection of short stories by Canadian author Alistair MacLeod. It was originally published in 1976. All of the stories contained is the collection were later republished in the book Island, together with other works by Alistair MacLeod.According to the blurb of...
and the 1986 As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories
As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories
As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Canadian author Alistair MacLeod set predominantly in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and in Newfoundland. It was originally published in 1986. All of its stories were later republished in Island....
. All of the stories in these two volumes along with his other published stories are included in MacLeod's 2000 collection Island
Island (book)
Not to be confused with Aldous Huxley's novel by the same name.Island is a book of short stories by Alistair MacLeod, published in 2000 by McClelland and Stewart....
. Among other awards, Macleod won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
for his 1999 novel No Great Mischief
No Great Mischief
No Great Mischief is a 1999 novel by Alistair MacLeod.The novel opens in the present day, with successful orthodontist Alexander MacDonald visiting his elderly older brother Calum in Toronto, Ontario...
.
On December 4, 2009, MacLeod received the PEN/Malamud Award
PEN/Malamud Award
The PEN/Malamud Award and Memorial Reading honors "excellence in the art of the short story", and is awarded annually by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. The selection committee is composed of PEN/Faulkner directors and representatives of Bernard Malamud's literary executors.The award was first given...
for Short Fiction along with Amy Hempel
Amy Hempel
Amy Hempel is an American short story writer, journalist, and university professor at Brooklyn College.-Life:Hempel was born in Chicago, Illinois...
.
Family
His son Alexander MacLeodAlexander MacLeod (writer)
Alexander MacLeod is a Canadian writer. His debut short story collection Light Lifting was a shortlisted nominee for the 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize, and the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award....
is also a writer, whose debut short story collection Light Lifting was a Scotiabank Giller Prize
Scotiabank Giller Prize
The Scotiabank Giller Prize, or Giller Prize, is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English the previous year, after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries...
finalist in 2010.
External links
- Alistair MacLeod's entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Author Interview Robert Jarovi. (Downloadable Word file)
- Alistair MacLeod reading from No Great MischiefNo Great MischiefNo Great Mischief is a 1999 novel by Alistair MacLeod.The novel opens in the present day, with successful orthodontist Alexander MacDonald visiting his elderly older brother Calum in Toronto, Ontario...
on Live from Prairie LightsPrairie lightsPrairie Lights is an independent bookstore in downtown Iowa City, Iowa, founded in 1978, by Jim Harris.-History:The store's original location was a space on South Linn Street...
. (RealPlayer streaming media.) - Reading Alistair MacLeod at NFB.ca.
- Alistair MacLeod at the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award