21 Rich with History

Randy Boyagoda Ontario	Helen Humphreys Ontario	Madeleine Thien Quebec
Harry Whitehead United Kingdom

Randy Boyagoda, Ontario

Randy Boyagoda is a writer, critic and professor of American Studies at Ryerson University in Toronto. His writing has appeared in publications, including the New York Times, Harper’s, The Walrus, National Post and the Globe and Mail. His first novel, Governor of the Northern Province, was published to national acclaim and longlisted for the 2006 Scotiabank Giller Prize. His new book is Beggar’s Feast. Read more

Helen Humphreys, Ontario

Helen Humphreys’ acclaimed, award-winning novels include Leaving Earth, Afterimage and The Lost Garden, all of which were named New York Times Notable Books; Wild Dogs, which has been optioned for film, and was produced as a stage play at CanStage in Toronto in the fall of 2008; and the number-one national bestseller, Coventry. She has also published four books of poetry and a bestselling work of creative non-fiction, The Frozen Thames. Her new novel is The Reinvention of Love. Read more

Madeleine Thien, Quebec

Madeleine Thien was awarded the Canadian Authors Association Air Canada Award for most promising Canadian writer under age 30 in recognition of her first book, Simple Recipes, a collection of short stories, which also received the, the and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Her novel, Certainty, won the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Ovid Festival Prize and was a finalist for the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction. Her riveting new novel is Dogs at the Perimeter. Read more

Harry Whitehead, United Kingdom

Harry Whitehead worked for many years as a location manager in the film business. He has master’s degrees in creative writing and medical anthropology, and a Ph.D. from Lancaster University. He has published a number of short stories and articles and teaches creative writing at the University of Leicester. The Cannibal Spirit is his first novel. Read more

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 8:00pm
Performance Works
$19

Some novels can be set anywhere. Others weave a critical sense of time and place into the fabric of the story to create a stunning tapestry that brings history alive. Tonight, four novelists reveal new works that immerse us in worlds far different from our own. From 1850s Paris and 1899 Sri Lanka to the northwest coast of Canada at the onset of the 20^th century and 1970s Cambodia, these are settings that are rich with history. When history and political strife create compelling characters and mesmerizing plots, great novels result. Come and experience intriguing atmospheres laden with history. No dust—guaranteed!

Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the door 45 minutes before the event begins.

This event is sponsored by HarperCollins Canada Ltd.

21 Rich with History

2011 Festival