The Ultimate List of Canadian Lit Books 26-50

The Famous Tales that Have Shaped Canada

May 28, 2009 Jenna Galley

A countdown of the Most Important Books in Canadian Literature, from 1948-1968, as reported by the Literary Review of Canada

In search of the best of the best in great Canadian fiction or nonfiction? Looking for a tale that delves into what it means to be Canadian? How about 100 great books? The Literary Review of Canada did just that in 2006 when they made their list of the Most Important Canadian Books.

So what made the list, what didn’t and who are the great authors behind these works of art? Read on to find out where the 26th-50th books have been listed starting from the oldest to most recent. These books range from 1948-1968 and feature classic tales from Farley Mowat, Northrop Frye, Leonard Cohen and Michael Trembley.

The Forties and Fifties

26. Refus Global (Complete Refusal) (1948) by Paul-Émile Borduas

27. Empire and Communications (1950) by Harold A. Innis

28. Report of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, 1949–1951 (1951)by Massey-Lévesque Commission

29. People of the Deer (1952) by Farley Mowat

30. So Little for the Mind (1953) by Hilda Neatby

31. John A. Macdonald: The Young Politician (1952) and The Old Chieftain (1955) by Donald Creighton

32. Insight: A Study in Human Understanding (1957) by Bernard Lonergan

33. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays (1957) by Northrop Frye

34. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1959) by Mordecai Richler

The Swinging 60’s of Canadian Lit

35. The Spice-Box of Earth (1961) by Leonard Cohen

36. The Gutenberg Galaxy: The Making of Typographic Man (1962) by Marshall McLuhan

37. Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years (1963) by Peter C. Newman

38. Report of the Canada Royal Commission on Health Services (1964) by Hall Commission

39. The Stone Angel (1964) by Margaret Laurence

40. In Praise of Older Women: The Amorous Recollections of András Vajda (1965) by Stephen Vizinczey

41. Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism (1965) by George Grant

42. Prochain épisode (Next Episode) (1965) by Hubert Aquin

43. The Vertical Mosaic: An Analysis of Social Class and Power in Canada (1965) by John A. Porter

44. Une saison dans la vie d’Emmanuel (A Season in the Life of Emmanuel) (1965) by Marie-Claire Blais

45. Combat Journal for Place d’Armes: A Personal Narrative (1967) by Scott Symons

46. The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (1967) by George Ryga

47. Final Report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1967–70)by Laurendeau-Dunton Commission

48. Les belles-soeurs (1968) by Michel Tremblay

49. Federalism and the French Canadians (1968)by Pierre Elliott Trudeau

50. Nègres blancs d’Amérique (White Niggers of America) (1968)by Pierre Vallières

Looking Back and Forward

Some of these authors are famous Canadians that students are forced to read in high schools; others are less famous, known only for their eloquent writing and brilliant expose. Regardless, all the authors and tales on the list, and the others-- The Ultimate List of Canadian Literature Books 1-25; The Ultimate List of Canadian Literature Books 51-75; The Ultimate List of Canadian Literature Books 76-100- are most certainly worth the read! Or, check out the full list as well as full reviews on each book at The Literary Review of Canada.

The copyright of the article The Ultimate List of Canadian Lit Books 26-50 in Canadian Fiction is owned by Jenna Galley. Permission to republish The Ultimate List of Canadian Lit Books 26-50 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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