Unreal Country

Willmott (English, Queen's U., Canada) has undertaken a study of modern English-language Canadian novels, breaking them down into unifying components to allow their consideration as a distinct literary genre. Among the authors whose novels are discussed are Bertram Brooker, Sinclair Ross, Frederick Philip Grove, Martha Ostenso, Ethel Wilson, Thomas Raddall, Ernest Buckler, and Alice Jones. Themes include the nation as youth, post-colonialism, post- modernism, imperialist ideology, and economic class distinctions. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

A traveller comes to Japan and is slowly absorbed into a complex and increasingly unnerving interplay of reality, representation, substitution, the virtual, the artificial, the counterfeit and the unreal. In form, 'Japan Dreams' is loosely modelled on 'Pillow Book' by Sei Shonagon and 'As I crossed a bridge of dreams' by Lady Sarashina, both written c. 1000 AD. The narrative moves between travelogue, meditation, exploration of ideas, discourse on various subjects, dreams, lists, and introspection. Fact and fiction become harder to separate as the story unfolds. What starts as straightforward documentary metamorphoses into chaotic self-absorption, and the reader is left examining the very same question examined by the narrator: is this real? A very personal first-person account, 'Japan Dreams' touches on numerous aspects of Japanese culture: arts and heritage, attitudes to time and space, sexuality, language, technology, media, entertainment, identity and self, values, family, city and country life, and religion.

Great Canadian Speeches features 50 momentous and powerful speeches in Canadian history, each testament the skilful use of language to inspire political change. Whether it be Lester Pearson addressing the Royal Canadian Legion during the height of the Flag Debate or Pierre Trudeau's 1980 Referendum speech at the Paul Sauvé Arena, this book brings to life the pivotal moments in the history of Canada. OTHER SPEECHES INCLUDE: • Charles de Gaulle's 'Vive le Québec libre' speech • Louis Riel's trial statement • Jean Chrétien on the events of September 11, 2001 • Wilfrid Laurier on the death of John A. Macdonald