W.J. Keith. Courtesy The Porcupine's Quill.
William John Keith (May 9, 1934 - July 14, 2018)[1] FRSC was a Canadian poet, prose author, academic, and literary critic.
Life[]
Keith was born and raised in north London, England.England. He came to Canada in 1958. He was educated at Brentwood School, Essex.[1]
After completing National Service with the Royal Army Educational Corps, he entered Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1955, graduating in 1958. He won a fellowship offered by the Canada Council to take his graduate studies at the University of Toronto, where he earned an M.A. in 1959 and a Ph.D. in 1961.[1]
He taught at McMaster University (1961-1966) and the University of Toronto (1966-1995). He edited the University of Toronto Quarterly for 9 years, 1976-1985.[2]
Since 1995 Keith has been a professor emeritus of English at University College, University of Toronto.[2]
He married Hiroko Sato, a Japanese-born schoolteacher, in 1965. He and his wife were both avid birders and world travelers, making bird-watchng trips on all 7 continents, as well as cruises and cultureal tours.[1]
Keith passed away in his sleep on July 14, 2018.[1]
Writing[]
Poetry[]
Kent Lewis, Canadian Literature: "Keith’s power lies in his willingness to tolerate paradox, contradiction, confusion, and a lack of resolution, in the foundation of faith itself ... he ... appreciates the dilemma of writing religious poetry in a thoroughly constructed and measured world ... he best navigates between preying on, and praying to the sacred."[3]
Ronald Charles Epstein, Canadian Book Review Annual: "Keith goes beyond mere self-expression, aiming for an emotional resonance expressed in a technically accomplished manner; fortunately, he is usually able to achieve his goal."[3]
Recognition[]
Keith was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1979.[2]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- Worshipper of Earth: A centenary tribute in verse to Richard Jefferies. Flitwick, UK: Hub Editions, 1985.
- Echoes in Silence. Fredericton, NB: Goose Lane Editions, 1992.[4]
- In the Beginning, and other poems. Toronto: St. Thomas Poetry Series, 1999.
- Poems for Hiroko. Toronto: privately printed, 2000.
Non-fiction[]
- Richard Jefferies: A critical study. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1965.
- Charles G.D. Roberts. Toronto: Copp Clark, 1969.
- The Rural Tradition: A study of the non-fiction prose writers of the English countryside. Toronto & Buffalo, NY: University of Toronto Press, 1974; Hassocks, UK: Harvester Press, 1975.
- The Poetry of Nature: Rural perspectives in poetry from Wordsworth to the present. Toronto & Buffalo, NY: University of Toronto Press, 1980.
- Epic Fiction: The art of Rudy Wiebe. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta Press, 1981.
- Canadian Literature in English. London & New York: Longman, 1985
- Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill. Volume 1, 2006; Volume 2, 2007.
- Introducing Margaret Atwood's 'The Edible Woman': A reader's guide. Toronto: ECW Press, 1989; Toronto: General, 1990.
- Robertson Davies. Toronto: ECW Press, 1989.
- Regions of the Imagination: The development of British rural fiction. Toronto & Buffalo, NY: University of Toronto Press, 1988.
- A Sense of Style: Studies in the art of fiction in English-speaking Canada. Toronto: ECW Press, 1989.
- An Independent Stance: Essays on English-Canadian criticism and fiction. Erin, ON: Porcupine's Quill, 1991.
- Literary Images of Ontario. Toronto & Buffalo, NY: University of Toronto Press (Ontario Historical Studies series), 1992.
- Life Struggle: Hugh Maclennan's 'The Watch that Ends the Night'. Toronto: ECW Press, 1993.
- The Jefferies Canon: Notes on essays attributed to Richard Jefferies without full documentary evidence. Oxford, UK: Petton Books, 1995.
- (with others) Holy Cross Quadrangle. U.S. Geological Survey, 1997.
- Canadian Odyssey: A reading of Hugh Hood's 'The New Age / Le nouveau siecle'. McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002.
- John Cowper Powys's 'A Glastonbury Romance'. Toronto, 2005.
- John Cowper Powys's 'Porius'. Toronto: 2005.
- John Cowper Powys's 'Autobiography': A reader's companion. Toronto: 2006.
Edited[]
- E.J. Pratt: Selected Poems (edited by Sandra Djwa, W.J. Keith, and Zaig Pollock). University of Toronto Press, 2000.[5]
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy Open Library.[6]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 William John Keith obituary, Globe & Mail, July 16, 2018. Legacy.com, Web, Mar. 22, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Introducing Margaret Atwood's The edible woman, Google Books. Web, Jan. 31, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 In the Beginning, and other poems, St. Thomas Poetry Series. Web, Jan. 31, 2013.
- ↑ Echoes in Silence / W.J. Keith, Trove, National Library of Australia. Web, Jan. 31, 2013.
- ↑ Selected Poems, Google Books. Web, Jan. 31, 2013.
- ↑ W.J. Keith, Open Library, Internet Archive. Web, Jan. 31, 2013.
External links[]
- Prose
- "Literary Periodicals in English" in the Canadian Encyclopedia
- "Sir Charles George Douglas Roberts" in the Canadian Encyclopedia
- "Poetry in English, 1867-1918" in the Canadian Encyclopedia
- "David Solway's Islands" in the Antigonish Review
- "Sympathetic, Generous ... and Tough - review of Robert Weaver: Godfather of Canadian literature at Literary Review of Canada
- Books
- W.J. Keith at Amazon.com
- W.J. Keith at Goodreads
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