Talonbooks is an independent publisher of Canadian literature, whose repertoire features authors writing in the literary genres of poetry

Poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...

, fiction and drama, as well as non-fiction books in the fields of ethnography

Ethnography

Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...

, environmental and social issues, cultural studies

Cultural studies

Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...

, and literary criticism

Literary criticism

Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...

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The company started as a magazine called Talon in 1963. It was run by David Robinson and some of his high-school friends. It later incorporated Jim Brown, who acted as both a writer and editor for the publication. Talon later joined with a small local press called Very Stone House and published its first string of poetry books in 1967. The association with Very Stone House ended a year later, and the Talonbooks imprint started appearing by itself. In 1969, with the addition of Peter Hay

Peter Hay

Peter Háy, is the son of Gyula Háy, and is the author of over a dozen books, including an anecdote book series for Oxford University Press, a history of MGM, MGM: When the Lion Roars and Ordinary Heroes: Chana Szenes and the dream of Zion the story of Hannah Senesh, the Hungarian Jewish poet and...

 as drama editor, Talonbooks published its first drama title, Colours in the Dark

Colours in the Dark

Colours in the Dark is a play by James Reaney. It was produced by the Stratford Festival in 1967 and the Vancouver Playhouse in 1969.Colours in the Dark was published by Talonbooks in 1969....

, by James Reaney

James Reaney

James Crerar Reaney was an influential Canadian poet, playwright, librettist, and professor, "whose works transform small-town Ontario life into the realm of dream and symbol."...

. Its editorial focus began shifting gradually more toward drama until it became the company's area of specialization. Notable Talonbooks authors include Michel Tremblay

Michel Tremblay

Michel Tremblay, CQ is a Canadian novelist and playwright.Tremblay grew up in the Plateau Mont-Royal, a French-speaking neighbourhood of Montreal, at the time of his birth a neighbourhood with a working-class character and joual dialect, something that would heavily influence his work...

, George Ryga

George Ryga

George Ryga was a Canadian playwright and novelist.Ryga was born in Deep Creek near Athabasca, Alberta to poor Ukrainian immigrant parents. Unable to continue his schooling past grade six, he worked at a variety of jobs, including radio copywriter...

, bpNichol

BpNichol

Barrie Phillip Nichol , who often went by his lower-case initials and last name, with no spaces , was a Canadian poet. He became widely known for his concrete poetry while living there in the 1960s...

, George Bowering

George Bowering

George Harry Bowering, OC, OBC is a prolific Canadian novelist, poet, historian, and biographer. He has served as Canada's Parliamentary Poet Laureate....

, bill bissett

Bill Bissett

bill bissett is a Canadian poet famous for his anti-conventional style. He often does not capitalise his name or use capital letters.-Life:...

, M.A.C. Farrant

M.A.C. Farrant

M.A.C. Farrant is a Canadian short fiction writer, memoirist, journalist, and humourist.Born in Sydney, Australia, and residing on the Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, Canada, since the age of five, she is the author of ten collections of satirical and humorous short fiction and a...

 and Mary Meigs

Mary Meigs

Mary Meigs was an American-born painter and writer.-Early life:Meigs was born in Philadelphia and raised in Washington, DC. She studied at Bryn Mawr College, and subsequently taught English literature and creative writing at that school...

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