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Small Ceremonies

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Small Ceremonies
First Canadian edition
AuthorCarol Shields
LanguageEnglish
PublisherMcGraw-Hill Ryerson
Publication date
1976
Publication placeCanada
ISBN978-0070823402

Small Ceremonies is a 1976 novel by American-Canadian writer Carol Shields.[1] The novel centres on Judith Gill, a university academic who is writing a biography of Susanna Moodie, depicting a year in the life of her family.[2]

The novel has sometimes been described as a roman à clef, as it was published around the same time as Shields' own real-life biography of Moodie and the protagonist's academic background closely resembled Shields's own.[3]

The novel won the Canadian Authors Association's annual award for fiction in 1977,[4] and was shortlisted for the Books in Canada First Novel Award.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Arnold Edinborough, "What a novel should do — and four are put to the test". Financial Post, May 1, 1976.
  2. ^ John Bryans, "Laughter amid the barbs". Vancouver Sun, May 7, 1976.
  3. ^ Marilyn Brown, "Canadian most appealing among female novelists". Edmonton Journal, May 29, 1976.
  4. ^ Burt Heward, "Carol Shields wins medal: Award to Ottawa novelist". Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 1977.
  5. ^ "Two writers to share award for first novels in Canada". Ottawa Citizen, March 29, 1977.