ABSTRACT

This volume aims to introduce undergraduates, graduates, and general readers to the diversity and richness of Canadian short story writing and to the narrative potential of short fiction in general. Addressing a wide spectrum of forms and themes, the book will familiarise readers with the development and cultural significance of Canadian short fiction from the early 19th century to the present. A strong focus will be on the rich reservoir of short fiction produced in the past four decades and the way in which it has responded to the anxieties and crises of our time. Drawing on current critical debates, each chapter will highlight the interrelations between Canadian short fiction and historical and socio-cultural developments. Case studies will zoom in on specific thematic or aesthetic issues in an exemplary manner. The Routledge Introduction to the Canadian Short Story will provide an accessible and comprehensive overview ideal for students and general readers interested in the multifaceted and thriving medium of the short story in Canada.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction to the Volume

part 1|93 pages

The Genre of the Short Story and Its Emergence and Development in Canada

chapter 2|21 pages

Sketchy Beginnings and “Becoming Canadian”

From the Early 19th Century to Confederation Literature

chapter 4|28 pages

From the 1960s to the Mid-1980s

A Genre Establishes Itself

part 2|144 pages

The Canadian Short Story from the Mid-1980s to the Present

chapter 7|25 pages

Gender Scripts and Queer Identities

chapter 8|25 pages

Indigenous Short Fiction in English

chapter 9|27 pages

Migration and Diaspora