Canadian literary circles are saddened by the death of a Newfoundland writer, editor and literary critic who died of sudden cardiac arrest on August 2 in Trinity, Newfoundland. Reminds me of the stand dragland.
Her Dragland, who co-founded Brick Books, one of Canada's few poetry-based publishers, was also the founding editor of the literary magazine Brick, whose poetry, non-fiction, and literary criticism has won his four awards. - Over ten years of career.
Dragland was from Calgary and later settled in St. John's, becoming an important member of the literary and artistic community.
"I don't know what to say about losing Stan," says Newfoundland poet and novelist Michael Crummy,who called Dragland his "best friend." called CBC Books. email.
"He was such a low-key, low-key presence that it is easy to underestimate how much power he had in my life in the state he adopted as his home. and in the cultural life of the country,” added Crummey .
He was such a humble figure that it is easy to underestimate what immense power he had in the cultural life of the nation.- Michael Crummey
is a long-time professor of English Literature at the University of Western Ontario in Dragland, who co-founded Brick Books in 1975 with fellow poet Don Mackay and has been the publisher for many years. served the company.
Dragland was also poetry editor for the publisher McClelland & Stewart from 1994 until 1997, helping a new generation of Canadian poets.
Dragland's work has garnered several awards and nominations over the years. His 1979 debut novel, Peckertracks, was a finalist for the Books in Canada First Novel Award. Floating Voices: The Literature of Duncan Campbell Scott and the Convention 9 (1994) won the Gabriel Roy Award for Canadian Literary Criticism. 12 Bars (2002) was a co-winner of the bp Nichol Chapbook Award. Apocrypha: Further Journeys (2003) won the Rogers Cable Award for Newfoundland and Labrador in the non-fiction category. His latest book, Gerald Squires, a memoir of Newfoundland artist Gerald Squires, won the 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award in the non-fiction category.
Stormy Weather: Foursomes (2005) states that E. J. The Pratt Poetry Award, and Strangers & Others: Newfoundland Essays (2015) were shortlisted for the BMO Winterset Award.
In 2020, Dragland was appointed to Canada's highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada.
Listen | In a 2015 essay book on Newfoundland, Stan Dragland:
Both new and established literary figures, such as publishing new works through Brick Books and teaching emerging authors at the Banff Center and Chile. spent time teaching and encouraging
"He was endlessly creative and supportive of any creative endeavours he was involved with as an editor, collaborator, or cheerleader." It was all about love and joy," Kurami said.
Dragland's collaboration continued until he published his own work in smaller presses, such as 2013's Deep Too. expanded to He collaborated with Toronto-based independent publisher He Book* Hug Press to investigate the phenomenon of competition among men.
His Jay MillAr, co-publisher of Book*hug, with his wife, his Hazel Millar, recalled being familiar with Dragland and his work, and sent him to Newfoundland. I met him for the first time during my trip.
"A mutual friend and poet prepared a reading for the two of us. Stan read an early draft of his work on male bravado and competition. This work, which Hazel and I will eventually publish as Deep Too, is a thoughtful and entertaining non-fiction book, and one of the most original ever published. It's definitely one of the classic books," MillAr said in an email to CBC Books .
"For one thing, it is a very small book, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand (Stan found it amusing given the subject matter), a thoughtful work by a prominent Canadian figure. The most unique authors of the 20th and 21st centuries.”
Draglund also published 2014’s Air Carnationin Book*hug. I was even encouraged to do so. This is the first novel by the Argentinian writer Guadalupe Muro, whom he tutored at his center in Banff.
"He was very enthusiastic about this book and Lupe's decision to write it in English instead of his native Spanish." said Lupe's beautiful writing captivated him, and made him fall in love with literary editing again," MillAr said.
"Hazel and I were astonished and deeply moved. When Stan flew all the way from Newfoundland to Toronto to attend the book launch, he met Guadalupe and her new book. introduced to Canadian readers with intelligence and grace:
"I am honored to have worked with such a kind, generous and wise man."
Draglund was also a regular fixture in Newfoundland's creative community, said poet George Murray. He is the former founder of the literary website Bookninja and the former Poet Laureate of St. His Johns.
Murray is a fellow author who edited the 2012 Giller Award-nominated collection of short stories How to Get Along with Women. 134} is married to Elizabeth de Mariafi. He also sang in Dragland — the couple's wedding in 2014.
I first came to Newfoundland sixteen years before him. “He was kind and welcoming. By the time Elizabeth and I were married, he was a regular at our Friday night kitchen parties and we had jam sessions at his house. was invited to other local writers and musicians.He was always very quiet, but half-smiling.
Whenever he opened his mouth to speak, came out His wisdom, both literary and human, was immeasurable.- George Murray
"I fear silence, but Stan It wasn't, he just sat there and listened until he had something to say, and every time he opened his mouth to speak it was always The correct came out.His wisdom, both literary and human, is immeasurable," he added.
"He and dear friend Holly Hogan sang us to and from our wedding venue. It may not have been the most comfortable, but he still sang as a great friend, and I felt sad for him, except for a few moments in the last few years. , I am honored to have known him in the first place."
Draglund is the wife of the founder and publisher of the independent Newfoundland-based Peddler Press, a poet and novelist. I am breaking up with Beth Follett at home.
"He was a few months before he turned 80 when he died," Cramie said. "However, I have only heard Stan expressing concerns and anxieties about his age in relation to projects he has in the works and projects he hopes to accomplish.Make us look like ourselves with his sarcastic, understated and original voice. ''
