"This up-to-date reference book brings together three hundred leading Canadianists to look at literature in Canada from a variety of perspectives. In over two thousand entries that attest to Canada's cultural plurality, the Encyclopedia covers literature in English and French, and also in such other languages as Yiddish, Spanish, Haida, and Cree.

It discusses authors and their work, related literary and social issues, professional institutions that play a role in the lives of Canadian writers, and the major historical and cultural events that have shaped Canada.".

"Among these are commentaries on humour and satire, genre (including radio drama and the long poem), social history, film, television and popular culture, literary awards, language, critical theory, the oral literatures of the First Nations, petroglyphs, the publishing industry, journalism, gender race, religion, region, myth, and class.".

"Extensive cross-referencing, a cultural chronology, supplementary index, and index of authors, as well as suggestions for further reading make this encyclopedia the most complete and accessible reference guide to Canadian literature in print."--BOOK JACKET.