The Anthology Of Italian Canadian Writing

The more than fifty authors represented come from across Canada and have backgrounds in all regions of Italy.

This historic collection, the first of its kind, is devoted to the discussion of Italian-Canadian writers publishing in English, in French or in Italian. These critical essays include analyses of some important writing: F.G. Paci's Black Madonna, the poetry of Mary di Michele and Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, the plays of Marco Micone, Gens du Silence and Addolorata, the novels of Maria Ardizzi and many other titles. The ten contributors make significant additions to the study of Canadian literature: D.C. Minni examines the short story; Alexandre Amprimoz and Sante Viselli consider Italian-Canadian poetry; Roberta Sciff-Zamaro analyses Black Madonna; Robert Billings fathoms di Michels's verse; Frank Paci considers the task of the novelist. Fulvio Caccia's essay on the literary languages of Quebec is controversial as are Filippo Salvatore's arguments on the writer and politics. Antonio D'Alfonso speculates on future developments among the more than one hundred Italian-Canadian writers. In addition to editing the collection, Joseph Pivato introduces the volume with a long essay on ethnic history and literary criticism in Canada, includes another essay on Italian-language writers and concludes with a detailed bibliography and an index.

Pillars of Lace is an eclectic collection of the finest writing by Italian-Canadian women. It is the first anthology of its kind in Canada. This anthology showcases excerpts of a variety of writing styles: poetry, short stories, film scripts, novels, personal memoirs, and journalism. Pillars of Lace is the perfect starting point for an introduction to and a taste of Italian-Canadian women writers. The material previously published or written in French or Italian has been translated into English. Many established, award-winning writers are represented: Maris Ardizzi, Angela Baldassarre, Carole David, Fiorells De Luca Calce, Isabella Colalillo-Katz, Mary di Michele, Caterina Edwards, Anna Foschi, Darlene Madott, Mary Melfi, Gianna Patriarca, Panny Petrone, Liliane Welch, Bianca Zagolin, Carmen Laurenza-Ziolkowski, and other recently and unpublished writers.

In the years since that anthology was published, a new and fresh generation of Italian Canadian writers have emerged and have left a further, indelible mark on Canadian literature. Many of the new 'names' have won major prizes, both nationally and internationally, and have become the new 'stars' of Canadian and international literature. It is time for a new selection and a new anthology! This revised volume of Italian Canadian Voices includes short stories, excerpts from longer prose works, and poetry. It covers the 'first voices' of Italian Canadian literature, the familiar and well-established voices and, to the credit of the Editor, there are a significant number of new 'voices' represented in this volume. In this new Italian Canadian Voices you will find Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, Nino Ricci, George Amabile, Mary Di Michele, Len Gasparini, Alexandre Amprimoz, Caterina Edwards, Darlene Madott, Antonino Mazza, Carmine Starnino, Joseph Maviglia and many others. Each writer has already or is the process of leaving his or her unique voice and signature on the evolution of Canadian and international literature.

This collection of essays explores the literature of Italian immigrants in Canada and their children by focusing on the central role that themes of migration hold in their work. Addressing topics such as the oral roots of Canadian immigrant writing, the changing place of women in works of the Italian diaspora, and the persistent difficulties of translation, this work provides an international perspective on some of the most pressing questions in the study of literature today. In addition to Canadian works, the work of immigrant writers from Australia and other countries is also considered, producing nuanced observations of cultural differences and affinities.

The stories and poems of Bravo! are diverse in style, but converge in an appreciation of the experience of immigration. In a rich display of literary fervour each author expresses his or her own view of life in translation with poignant observation. The influences of both cultures, Italian and Canadian, can be found weaving through the pages of the anthology as authors delve into the challenges they have endured, the perseverance they have relied on and the eventual rewards of their labours.