Canadians have certainly left their marks on the literary world, whether it’s been with fiction, poetry, science fiction, or more. Here are the top 10 Canadian authors.
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10- Margaret Avison
Poet Margaret Avison received accolades for two different poetry collections that received the honours of winning the Governor General’s Award.
9- Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen wasn’t just an author but he’s also a musician, poet, songwriter, and artist. His most well-known published work is “Beautiful Losers.”
8- Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland’s 1991 book “Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture” became an international bestseller. He’s currently working on another novel, “Generation A,” as well as a biography of Canadian scholar Marshall McLuhan and a new TV show called “Extinction Event.”
7- Robert James Sawyer
Science-fiction writer Robert James Sawyer has penned 18 books, one of which, “Flash Forward,” was sold to ABC for a primetime drama. It’s amongst this fall’s line-up of new programs, and premieres on September 24th.
6- Michael Ondaatje
Born in Sri Lanka, Michael Ondaatje moved to and then became a Canadian citizen in the early ‘60s. His work “The English Patient” not only won the Booker Prize but it was also adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie.
5- Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat is known for authoring two types of work – gritty memoirs and children’s literature. His novel “Never Cry Wolf” was adapted into a big-screen flick, and the kid’s book “Lost in the Barrens” won the Governor General’s Award.
4- Alice Munro
Fiction writer Alice Munro has racked up three Governor General’s Awards and received the 2009 Man Booker International Prize for her literary work.
3- Mordecai Richler
Montreal native Mordecai Richler was known for his honest, witty satire, and is the name behind well-known works like “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” and “Barney’s Version.”
2- Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies wore a variety of “hats” – playwright, reporter, teacher, novelist – and in his 82 years, he earned a well-respected literary reputation with an incredible 23 honourary degrees as well as countless literature awards.
1- Margaret Atwood
Ottawa-born Margaret Atwood is the most well-known Canadian author, in Canada as well as south of the border. She wrote “The Edible Woman,” “The Blind Assassin,” which won the Booker Prize, and “Oryx and Crake.”
Photo: Leonard Cohen
