Most Popular Books by Al Purdy

In this fascinating and funny collection of correspondence, Canada''s greatest poet lets it all hang out in spirited private exchanges with Pierre Trudeau, Carol Shields, Earle Birney, Anna Porter, Charles Bukowski, Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Gwendolyn MacEwan, Jack McClelland, Northrup Frye, William Golding, Darryl Sittler, Alistair MacLeod, Susan Musgrave, Irving Layton, Lynn Crosbie, George Bowering, Anthony Burgess, Joseph Brodsky and many other notables. Yours, Al is an uncensored, intimate glimpse into the life of Canada''s most celebrated poet. Al Purdy''s personal letters present the Can-lit scene as an ongoing conversation between members of a tight, supportive community spanning generations of talented writers. From generous encouragement to brash, unsparing insults--it''s all here, with responses from many recipients of his letters. Encompassing more than fifty years, the letters show Purdy at his best--and his worst.

Beardsley and Purdy examine one of English Literature''s true legends.

Winner of a BC 2000 Book Prize Canada needs more books like this. -Wireweed

The definitive Al Purdy selected. Finalist for CBC Radio''s Canada Reads 2006!

Includes 28 tapes of Purdy reading his poetry (Cariboo horses; Pressed on sand). Typescripts and drafts of poems. Typescripts and mimeographs of articles and plays for television and radio).

Al Purdy''s first book, published in a limited edition of around 500 copies. Less than 100 copies were delivered to Purdy, the rest apparently destroyed for non-payment.

A bundle of Laurier Poetry books for course use that includes Fierce Departures (Dionne Brand); Sonosyntactics (Paul Dutton); The More Easily Kept Illusions (Al Purdy); False Laws of Narrative (Fred Wah0; and Sohkeyihta (Louise Bernice Halfe).