“Things are not always what they seem,” said the Roman fabulist Phaedrus. “First appearances deceive many.” Many, but not all. Those who dare to look more closely are well represented in Canadian literature. Our literature has more than its fair share of rebels and provocateurs – writers who push the boundaries of form and convention.
Our fiction is full of characters who challenge norms, circumstances, and assumptions in pursuit of something better. Characters who speak when they’re meant to be silent, who remain true to their conscience, who expose the truth – despite the consequences.
Our non-fiction tackles power structures and practices that normalize injustice or deception. It lends urgency to issues we might otherwise ignore and compels us to consider how things might be different.