Rabindranath Maharaj
Encyclopedia
Rabindranath Maharaj is a Canadian novelist, short story writer, and a founding editor of the literary journal Lichen. His novel The Amazing Absorbing Boy won the 2010 Trillium Book Award
and the 2011 Toronto Book Award, and several of his books have been shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize
(Canada and Caribbean Region), and the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award
.
He was raised in George Village, Tableland in South Trinidad
. After receiving a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English and History, and Diploma of Education from the University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, he worked as a teacher and, briefly, as a columnist for the Trinidad Guardian
.
In the early 1990s, Maharaj immigrated to Canada, and in 1993, he completed a second M.A. (this one in Creative Writing) at the University of New Brunswick. In 1994 he moved to the town of Ajax, Ontario
, where he taught high school for a number of years. In 1998, Maharaj, along with three other Durham Region writers - Ruth E. Walker, Gwynn Scheltema, and Lucy Brennan - founded and coedited Lichen Literary Journal, which was launched in May 1999. He remained on the editorial board for another three years.
Since then he has, among other posts, been a Writer in Residence at the Toronto Reference Library, a mentor for young writers with Diaspora Dialogues, and more recently an instructor with both the Humber College
School for Writers and the University of Toronto
School of Continuing Studies. Apart from his novels and collections of short stories, he has published work in various literary journals and anthologies; written book reviews and articles for The Washington Post
, The Globe and Mail
, the Toronto Star
, and others; written a play for CBC Radio
; and co-written a screenplay.
He continues to reside in Ajax, Ontario.
Trillium Book Award
The Trillium Award is given annually by the government of the Province of Ontario and is open to books in any genre: fiction, non-fiction, drama, children's books, and poetry. Anthologies, new editions, re-issues and translations are not eligible. Three jury members per language judge the...
and the 2011 Toronto Book Award, and several of his books have been shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
The Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize is a Canadian literary award presented by Rogers Communications and the Writers' Trust of Canada after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries....
, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers is an initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation to unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. It's flagship are two literary awards and a website...
(Canada and Caribbean Region), and the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award
Books in Canada First Novel Award
The Amazon.ca First Novel Award, formerly the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a literary award given annually to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada. It has been awarded since 1976....
.
He was raised in George Village, Tableland in South Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. After receiving a B.A. in English, an M.A. in English and History, and Diploma of Education from the University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, he worked as a teacher and, briefly, as a columnist for the Trinidad Guardian
Trinidad Guardian
The T&T Guardian is the oldest daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1917, the Guardian is published by the Trinidad Publishing Company. The newspaper was published as a broadsheet since inception but changed to tabloid format, known as the "G-sized Guardian", in November 2002...
.
In the early 1990s, Maharaj immigrated to Canada, and in 1993, he completed a second M.A. (this one in Creative Writing) at the University of New Brunswick. In 1994 he moved to the town of Ajax, Ontario
Ajax, Ontario
Ajax is a town in the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area.The town is named for the HMS Ajax a Royal Navy cruiser that served in World War II. Ajax is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and the...
, where he taught high school for a number of years. In 1998, Maharaj, along with three other Durham Region writers - Ruth E. Walker, Gwynn Scheltema, and Lucy Brennan - founded and coedited Lichen Literary Journal, which was launched in May 1999. He remained on the editorial board for another three years.
Since then he has, among other posts, been a Writer in Residence at the Toronto Reference Library, a mentor for young writers with Diaspora Dialogues, and more recently an instructor with both the Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
School for Writers and 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...
School of Continuing Studies. Apart from his novels and collections of short stories, he has published work in various literary journals and anthologies; written book reviews and articles for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, and others; written a play for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
; and co-written a screenplay.
He continues to reside in Ajax, Ontario.
Novels
- Homer in Flight (1997) Goose Lane Editions (also available as an audiobook)
- The Lagahoo's Apprentice (2000) Knopf Canada; and Turkey İşbank Culture Publications
- A Perfect Pledge (2005) Knopf Canada; Farrar, Straus and Giroux in the US; and Mouria Press, Netherlands
- The Picture of Nobody (2010) Good Reads/HarperCollins Canada
- The Amazing Absorbing Boy (2010) Knopf Canada
Short Story Collections
- The Interloper (1995) Goose Lane Editions
- The Writer and His Wife (1996) Peepal Tree Press, UK
- The Book of Ifs and Buts (2002) Vintage Canada
Anthologies (as contributor)
- AWOL : Tales for Travel-Inspired Minds (2003) Vintage Canada
- Victory Meat - New Fiction in Atlantic Canada (2003) Anchor Canada
- Reading Writers Reading - Canadian Authors' Reflections (2006) University of Alberta Press
- TOK: Writing the New Toronto, book 2 (2007) Zephyr Press
- City of Words (2009) Cormorant Books
Awards, Prizes & Nominations
- 1996 Finalist, Commonwealth Writers' PrizeCommonwealth Writers' PrizeCommonwealth Writers is an initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation to unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. It's flagship are two literary awards and a website...
, for best first book (for The Interloper) - 1998 Finalist, Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award (for Homer in Flight)
- 2005 Finalist, Commonwealth Writer's Prize (for A Perfect Pledge)
- 2005 Finalist, Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeRogers Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeThe Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize is a Canadian literary award presented by Rogers Communications and the Writers' Trust of Canada after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries....
, for best novel (for A Perfect Pledge) - 2010 Trillium Book AwardTrillium Book AwardThe Trillium Award is given annually by the government of the Province of Ontario and is open to books in any genre: fiction, non-fiction, drama, children's books, and poetry. Anthologies, new editions, re-issues and translations are not eligible. Three jury members per language judge the...
, for best book (for The Amazing Absorbing Boy) - 2010 Longlist, OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean LiteratureOCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean LiteratureOCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature is a literary award for books by Caribbean writers. The prize award is US$10,000 and is sponsored by One Caribbean Media. Prizes are awarded for books in the categories of poetry, fiction, and literary non-fiction. The inaugural prize was in April...
(for The Amazing Absorbing Boy) - 2011 Toronto Book Award (for The Amazing Absorbing Boy)
External links
- Rabindranath Maharaj's official website
- Random House Canada author spotlight
- Goose Lane Editions author page
- Author interview by John Metcalf (writer)John Metcalf (writer)John Metcalf, CM is a Canadian writer, editor and critic.-Biographical:Metcalf was born in Carlisle, England on November 12, 1938. His father, Thomas Metcalf, was a clergyman and his mother, Gladys Moore Metcalf, was a teacher. Metcalf immigrated to Canada in 1962 at the age of 24. It was in...
in Canadian Notes & QueriesCanadian Notes & QueriesCanadian Notes & Queries was first published in 1968 by William Morley as a four page supplement to the Abacus, the newsletter of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of Canada...
magazine. - Author profile and interview with John Barber, in The Globe & Mail, February 9, 2010.