Eugene Benson
Encyclopedia
Eugene Benson is a professor of English and a prolific novelist, playwright and librettist.
, Benson obtained a masters degree from the University of Western Ontario
and his Ph.D from the University of Toronto
.
As an activist advancing the cause of writers, Benson served as president of PEN Canada
(an association of writers formed to defend freedom of expression) in 1984 and, in 1983, as chairman of the Writers' Union of Canada
– a position also once held by noted authors Margaret Atwood
, Pierre Berton
, June Callwood
, Timothy Findley
, Graeme Gibson
, Susan Musgrave
, Paul Quarrington
and David Lewis Stein.
Now retired from the University of Guelph
, Benson continues to write.
He married Renate (née Niklaus), a retired languages and literature professor at University of Guelph
, in 1968. Together they have two sons: Ormonde Benson, a lawyer, and Shaun Benson
, an actor. Shaun has starred in the Canadian television series “The Associates
”, the soap opera “General Hospital
” and the movie K-19: The Widowmaker
. Renate is author of German Expressionist Drama (1984).
He has written four plays broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, and translations of Quebec plays with his wife Renate Benson. He edited the periodical Canadian Drama.
In 2003, Benson and Bill Fraser adapted Benson’s 1980 political satire Powergame into the made-for-TV movie North of America. It is unproduced but was a finalist in a national script competition broadcast on the CBC.
Benson twice served as president of the Guelph Spring Festival, an annual music fair.
Life
Born in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Benson obtained a masters degree from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
and his Ph.D from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
As an activist advancing the cause of writers, Benson served as president of PEN Canada
PEN Canada
PEN Canada is one of the 144 centres of International PEN. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.Since its founding,...
(an association of writers formed to defend freedom of expression) in 1984 and, in 1983, as chairman of the Writers' Union of Canada
Writers' Union of Canada
The Writers' Union of Canada , founded in 1973, describes itself as supporting "the country's authors by advocating for their rights, freedoms, and economic well-being." Its members are professional writers who must have published at least one book through a commercial publisher.The Union addresses...
– a position also once held by noted authors Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, Pierre Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
, June Callwood
June Callwood
June Rose Callwood, was a Canadian journalist, author and social activist. She was born in Chatham, Ontario and grew up in nearby Belle River.-Early life and career:...
, Timothy Findley
Timothy Findley
Timothy Irving Frederick Findley, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian novelist and playwright. He was also informally known by the nickname Tiff or Tiffy, an acronym of his initials.-Biography:...
, Graeme Gibson
Graeme Gibson
Graeme C. Gibson, CM is a Canadian novelist who lives in Toronto, Ontario. He is a Member of the Order of Canada , and was one of the organizers of the Writer's Union of Canada . He has a long term relationship with the novelist and poet Margaret Atwood.In 1996 he decided to stop writing novels...
, Susan Musgrave
Susan Musgrave
Susan Musgrave is a Canadian poet and children's writer. She was born in Santa Cruz, California to Canadian parents, and currently lives in British Columbia, dividing her time between Sidney and the Queen Charlotte Islands....
, Paul Quarrington
Paul Quarrington
Paul Lewis Quarrington was a Canadian novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, musician and educator.-Background:...
and David Lewis Stein.
Now retired from the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
, Benson continues to write.
He married Renate (née Niklaus), a retired languages and literature professor at University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
, in 1968. Together they have two sons: Ormonde Benson, a lawyer, and Shaun Benson
Shaun Benson
-Biography:Benson was born in Guelph, Ontario. He is the son of Eugene Benson, an English professor and a prolific novelist, playwright and librettist. He summered at YMCA Camp Kitchikewana on Beausoleil Island where he held the position of Music Coordinator and later held the esteemed position of...
, an actor. Shaun has starred in the Canadian television series “The Associates
The Associates (Canadian TV series)
The Associates is a Canadian television drama series that aired on CTV in 2001 and 2002. The show features five junior associate lawyers at a Toronto law firm, played by Demore Barnes, Shaun Benson, Tamara Hickey, Gabriel Hogan and Jennie Raymond. R.H. Thomson also stars as the firm's senior partner...
”, the soap opera “General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
” and the movie K-19: The Widowmaker
K-19: The Widowmaker
K-19: The Widowmaker is a movie released on July 19, 2002, about the first of many disasters that befell the Soviet submarine of the same name. The film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow...
. Renate is author of German Expressionist Drama (1984).
He has written four plays broadcast on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, and translations of Quebec plays with his wife Renate Benson. He edited the periodical Canadian Drama.
In 2003, Benson and Bill Fraser adapted Benson’s 1980 political satire Powergame into the made-for-TV movie North of America. It is unproduced but was a finalist in a national script competition broadcast on the CBC.
Benson twice served as president of the Guelph Spring Festival, an annual music fair.
Works
- Encyclopedia of Post-Colonial Literatures in English (1994) re-issued in 2005
- Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature (1997)
- Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre (1989),
- English Canadian Drama (1987)
- J.M. Synge biography (1980)
- Bulls of Ronda, novel (1976)
- Encounter: Canadian Drama in Four Media (1973)
- Power Game: The Making of a Prime Minister. Toronto: NC, 1980.
Libretti for operas
- Psycho Red (1978) music by Charles WilsonCharles Wilson (composer)Charles Mills Wilson is a Canadian composer, choral conductor, and music educator.-Biography:Wilson began studying piano at age six with Wilfred Powell and later studied organ with Charles Peaker. He studied composition with Godfrey Ridout at the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelors of Music...
- Héloise & Abélard (1973)
- Earnest, The Importance of Being 2008 music Victor DaviesVictor DaviesVictor Albert Davies is an award winning Canadian composer, pianist, and conductor, best known for his opera Transit of Venus.-Biography:...