Morris House Reading Series 2007-2008

The Morris House Reading Series brings both established and up-and-coming authors to Bishop's University to present their work, answer questions, and meet with the audience during the informal reception that follows. This venture was initiated by Michelle Ariss in 2004 while working in the English Department as a part-time instructor. The series continues to be co-ordinated by Drs Grogan and Morra, and, since 2007, student interns who help facilitate and promote the series through the Tomlinson Internship. In 2007-2008, the following authors were featured:

Agnes Whitfield

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Whitfield studied French and Quebec literature at Queen's University, Université de Paris IV-Sorbonne and Université Laval (Ph. D., 1981). She has worked as a professional translator with the Canadian Secretary of State Translation Bureau (1976-1980), and taught both translation and Quebec literature, first at Queen's University (1980-1990), and since 1990, at York University's Glendon College, where she is a professor and former director of the School of Translation (1992-1996). Visiting Professor at the University of Bologna's Centro di Studi Quebecchesi and Scuola Superiore di Lingue Moderne per Interpreti e Traduttori in May 2003, she was Seagram Visiting Chair at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, McGill University (2003-2004).

Daniel Gagnon-Barbeau

Born in Quebec, Daniel Gagnon-Barbeau has been a painter for over 20 years. His work explores themes of infancy, day-to-day life, the countryside, as well as the human body. These interests are just as evident in his written work, including biographical essays on Riopelle and Frère Jérôme, as well as fictional biographies based on the lives of painters Marc-Aurèle Fortin and Ozias Leduc.

Asa Boxer

Asa Boxer live in Montreal and is a poet, critic and essayist. He won first prize in the 2004 CBC enRoute poetry competition. His poems, articles and reviews have appeared in Poetry London, Arc, Books in Canada, Maisonneuve, and Canadian Notes & Queries (CNQ).

Anne Cimon

Anne Cimon is a Montreal poet. She freelances as a journalist, a reviewer, editor, and translator. She has published four books of poetry including the bilingual editions All We Need/Tout ce qu'il faut (2002) and An Angel around the Corner/Un ange autour du coin (2004) which reflect her French heritage. She studied creative writing at Concordia University and received her BA Specialization in English Literature in 1993. In 2002, Anne won a prize from the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick for her essay on the Canadian and international poet, Irving Layton, whom she studied with. Her interest in nineteenth-century literature and women's writings combined in her most recent book, Susanna Moodie: Pioneer Author (2006). Anne is currently at work on a novel, A Room on the Mountain, set in contemporary Montreal. She is also completing a new collection of poems, some of which have appeared in the magazines freefall, Gusts, Quills, and the anthology Arms Like a Ladder.

W.H. New

W.H.. New is a Canadian poet and literary critic. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he was educated at the University of British Columbia and the University of Leeds. He taught English literature at the former from 1965 to 2003. In 2007 he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. For 29 years he held editorial positions at Canadian Literature and, in 2004, was made Editor Emeritus. He is the University Killam Professor at the University of British Columbia. He has written and edited over thirty books. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Canada in 1986.

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