The most underrated part of any book is the About the Author blurb. All of us readers are often more likely to know the complex history of a fictional side character than the one of the flesh-and-blood person who wrote it. How well do we even know these authors? Their pasts informed their writing styles and shaped them into the authors we know and love today. It’s about time we started to get to know them.
To start this journey, we compiled a list of 12 popular authors whose Canadian backgrounds may surprise you.
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is best known as the author of the acclaimed novel The Handmaid’s Tale. She was raised in northern Ontario and currently resides in Toronto. Atwood’s writing is famous for its focus on feminist themes. The Handmaid’s Tale in particular has grown in popularity in recent years, partially due to its Emmy award-winning adaptation.
Be sure to check out her most recent book The Testaments.
Robert Munsch
Originally from Pittsburgh, Robert Munsch has maintained Canadian citizenship since the early 1980s. For years, he worked in daycares, fostering a love for telling stories to children. Many of his books feature main characters based on the children he met during this time. Self-dubbed Canada’s #1 storyteller, Munsch still inspires children today.
His colorful books include The Paper Bag Princess, Mortimer, and Stephanie’s Ponytail.
Emily St. John Mandel
Emily St. John Mandel was born in a small Canadian island town and has a background in professional dance. She currently resides in New York City. Mandel’s books often feature a dark and mysterious setting and tend to explore philosophical themes. Her fourth book, Station Eleven, was adapted into a critically acclaimed limited series.
Dive into her most recent novel, Sea of Tranquility.
Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell was raised in a rural Mennonite town in Ontario and currently lives in New York City. A journalist and contributing writer for The New Yorker, Gladwell is the author of multiple nonfiction books that examine social philosophy, including the popular Talking to Strangers. Gladwell is also the host of the Revisionist History podcast.
Take a look at Gladwell’s newest book Revenge of the Tipping Point.
Emma Donoghue
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Emma Donoghue has been a resident of Canada since the late 1990s. Many of her novels are based on historical events and center women. Her most famous novel, Room, she adapted into the Oscar award-winning film of the same name. Donoghue also explores queer and lesbian themes in many of her books.
Keep an eye out for her upcoming novel, The Paris Express.
Yann Martel
Yann Martel is best known as the author of the sensational novel Life of Pi, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning feature film. Martel was originally raised in Canada but eventually moved around the world due to his parents’ positions in the Canadian Foreign Service. This world experience transferred to his writing. Martel’s novels feature diverse settings and explorations of the human spirit.
Check out his most recent novel, The High Mountains of Portugal.
Heather O’Neill
Heather O’Neill was raised in Montreal and still calls the city home. Her best-selling books focus on disenfranchised women in urban settings. Lullabies for Little Criminals, her debut novel, centers on an impoverished little girl. O’Neill has an Instagram with her daughter Arizona where they read and recommend books.
Explore her intriguing new novel The Capital of Dreams.
Michael Ondaatje
Born in Sri Lanka, Michael Ondaatje has lived in Canada since the early 1960s. He is best known for his novel The English Patient, which was adapted into an Oscar award-winning film. Ondaatje has been praised for his poetic language and heavy use of imagery.
Plunge into his recent poetry collection, A Year of Last Things.
E.K. Johnston
E.K. Johnston was born and raised in Ontario. Star Wars fans may recognize Johnston for her novelizations of the famous franchise. She is also a popular young adult fiction writer with multiple series that feature fantasy and science-fiction settings. Her writing isn’t all dragons and space battles, though. Johnston is also known for her acclaimed novel Exit, Pursued by a Bear. This story focuses on one teenage girl’s harrowing experience that is all too real and all too common.
Keep an eye out for her upcoming novels Titan of the Stars and Sky on Fire.
Leonard Cohen
Canadian artist Leonard Cohen is perhaps most famous for his hauntingly beautiful song Hallelujah. But before his death in 2016, Cohen was also a celebrated novelist and poet. His work was praised for its existentialism and personal nature.
His books include the poetry collection Book of Longing and the novel Beautiful Losers.
Susan Juby
A lifelong Canadian native, Susan Juby is known for her humorous writing. Her popular Alice, I Think series was adapted into a sitcom for Canadian television. Since publishing this debut novel, Juby’s work has gone on to win numerous literary awards.
Laugh along with her latest book, A Meditation on Murder.
Rupi Kaur
Born in India and raised in Canada, Rupi Kaur is possibly the most famous author on this list. Her debut poetry collection, Milk and Honey, explored themes of femininity, love, and loss. Her poetry has sparked controversy among readers for its simplistic and homogenous structure. Kaur has defended this choice, saying it is an intentional homage to her mother tongue. Aside from writing, Kaur is also a performance artist who brings her blend of poetry and stand-up to the stage.
Peek into her process with her recently published writing guide, Healing Through Words
Who knew Canada had such a vast array of writers? From poetry and fantasy to children’s books and nonfiction, these authors sure have an impressive catalog. We hope this jaunt inspired you to investigate the backgrounds of your other favorite authors. You never know what you might discover.
Learn more about Canada’s rich reading tradition here.
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