Canadian Literature and Poetry in English

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Book & Publishing History:
Major Literary, Scholarly & Trade Journals

Major Literary Journals

The Antigonish Review
vol. 83 (1991)–present

Publishes poetry, translations, short stories, essays, film and book reviews, and illustrations from both established and emerging scholars, authors, artists, and poets.

Available Online
Brick: A Literary Journal
no. 1 (1977)–present (incomplete archive)

A journal that is international in scope, publishing articles, poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. Canadian writers are prominently featured.

Periodical Stacks
Books in Canada
vol. 1 (1971)–vol. 37 (2008) (incomplete archive)
vol. 22 (1993)–vol. 37 (2008) (incomplete archive)

Publishes in-depth and evaluative reviews of contemporary Canadian literature.

Available Online

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Canadian Notes & Queries
no. 1 (1968)–present (incomplete archive)

Interviews with authors, articles on the history on Canadian bibliography, publishing, as well as antiquarian bookselling, and in-depth book reviews.

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The Dalhousie Review
no. 1 (1921/1922)–present (incomplete archive)

Publishes short fiction, poetry, and book reviews by Canadian and international authors.

Available Online

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Literary Review of Canada
vol. 4 (1995)–present (incomplete archive)
vol. 6 (1997)–present (incomplete archive)

An international scholarly journal publishing poetry, fiction, essays, and interviews. Presents stories, poems, essays, memoirs, and author interviews.

Available Online

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The Malahat Review
no. 1 (1967)–present (incomplete archive)

Publishes Canadian and international poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction.

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Prairie Fire
vol. 41 (2021)–present

Consists of new fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. The journals offers a publishing platform for new and emerging authors and poets and is not limited to contributions from prairie writers.

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Queen’s Quarterly
vol. 1 (1893)–present

A refereed academic journal, published by Queen’s University, which features articles, review essays, and creative works, such as poetry and short stories.

Available Online

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University of Toronto Quarterly
vol. 1 (1931)–present
vol. 1 (1931)–present

Consult the annual “Letters in Canada” issue, with reviews of the year’s notable literary and critical publications for English and French-Canadian literature. Separate essays examine fiction, poetry, drama and translations.

Available Online

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Major Literary & Trade Journals: Ceased Publication

The Canadian Author and Bookman
vol. 1 (1919)–v. 73 (1998)

Articles on authors and poets, as well as book reviews and essays related to book publishing, bibliography, and librarianship. Desmond Pacey criticized the journal for promoting uninhibited literary nationalism. The publication merged with Canadian Author to form Canadian Author and Bookman, April, 1940.

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Canada Bookseller and Stationer
vol. 12 (1896)–v. 13, no. 4 (1897)

A monthly trade magazine edited and released by the McLean Publishing Company headquartered in Toronto, it published articles on such topics as the copyright law and legislation, activities and concerns of Canadian publishers, lists of bestsellers, and other news and annoucements from the bookselling and publishing industries.

Available Online
Canadian Fiction
1997–2000 (incomplete archive)

A semi-annual journal publishing the work of contemporary Canadian fiction writers. Contains short stories and poetry in English with occasional pieces in French.

Available Online
Canadian Forum
vol. 1 (1920)–v. 79 (2000)

An influential periodical that published short stories, poetry, social commentaries, and critical essays authored by many preeminent Canadian writers, poets, scholars, and intellectuals. The magazine also included articles on Canadian cultural development.

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Journal of Canadian Fiction
vol. 1 (1972)–vol. 36 (1986)

Founded on the “premise that there is a Canadian literature and that it is worth exploring,” the first editorial board included Northop Frye, Margaret Lawrence, Desmond Pacey, Clara Thomas, Rudy Wiebe and other prominent scholars and writers.

The journal published short stories, articles, book reviews, and bibliographic information on Canadian fiction and criticism. Ceased publishing in 1986.

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Literary Garland
vol. 1 (1838)–vol. 9 (1851)

The journal was an important publishing platform for pioneer writing in the “new world,” featuring stories of travel to an unknown land and the challenges of frontier life. Writing as “Mrs. Moodie,” Susanna Moodie (1803– 1885) was among the most distinguished contributors. An index to the periodical, compiled by Mary Markham Brown, is available in-print.

Available Online

Canadiana

Tamarack Review
vol. 1 (1956)–vol. 84 (1982)
Periodical Stacks
Tish
no. 27 (1964); no. 29–no. 40; no. 42 (1968)
Available Online

Canadiana

Major Scholarly Journals

ARIEL: A Review of International English Literature
no. 1 (1970)–present

Scholarly criticism of literatures in English, with particular focus on the influence of colonization on literature. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online
Book History
no. 1 (1998)–present

Publishes articles on the creation, dissemination, and reception of script and print, including the history of the book in Canada. The official publication of the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online
The Canadian Journal of Native Studies
vol. 1 (1981)–present

Articles, bibliographies, book reviews, and discussions related to all cultural aspects of Indigenous Peoples, including literature. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online
Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review
no. 171 (2001)–present
no. 1 (1959)–present

Includes articles, interviews and commentaries on Canadian writing. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online

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Canadian Poetry: Studies, Documents, Reviews
no. 1 (1977)–present
no. 4 (1979)–present

Includes articles on the study of poetry Canada from all regions and periods. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online

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English Studies in Canada
vol. 29 (2003)–present
vol. 1 (1975)–present

Includes articles on national literatures in English, including Canadian. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online

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International Journal of Canadian Studies
no. 35 (2007)–present
no. 14 (1996)–present

A bilingual, multidisciplinary, and peer-reviewed journal publishing the latest research in Canadian Studies from around the world.

Available Online

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Journal of Canadian Studies
vol. 27 (1992)–present
vol. 1 (1966)–present

Includes articles on a wide range of studies on Canada: literature, arts, architecture, anthropology, community planning, culture, the economy, education, history, Indigenous issues, politics and public affairs, and sociology. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online

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The Journal of Commonwealth Literature
no. 1 (1966)–present

Critical and bibliographic forum in the field of Commonwealth and postcolonial literatures. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online
Mosaic: A Journal for the Interdisciplinary Study of Literature
vol. 1 (1967)–present
vol. 1 (1967)–present

A peer-reviewed, academic journal covering a broad range of subjects (such as literature).

Available Online

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Mémoires du livre / Studies in Book Culture
vol. 1 (2009)–present

The focus of the journal is to advance scholarship on the Canadian book history: agents and institutions involved in the production, dissemination, and circulation of texts, materiality, content, practices, and usage of books.

Available Online
Studies in Canadian Literature
vol. 1 (1976)–present

Refereed essays, literary criticism, and book reviews. Special issues on specific topics (such as history of Canadian fiction) are published periodically.

Available Online
TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies
no. 1 (1997)–present

A peer-reviwed journal publishing current research, theoretical essays in cultural studies (including literature), cultural and political debates, commentaries and book reviews.

Available Online

Major Scholarly Journals: Ceased Publication

Essays on Canadian Writing
no. 1 (1974)–no. 84 (2009)
no. 1 (1974)–no. 84(2009)

Includes review essays of contemporary Canadian theatre, drama, and poetry. Scholarly, but not peer-reviewed.

Available Online

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The International Fiction Review
vol. 28 (2001)–vol. 34 (2007)

Extensive coverage of world literature, including Canadian. Peer-reviewed.

Available Online

Major Trade Journals

Canadian Children’s Book News
Canadian Children’s Book Centre

A quarterly magazine publishing book reviews, author and illustrator interviews, profiles of publishers and bookstores, and news about children’s education and reading.

Available Online
Publishing in Canada
2017–present

A trade magazine published by Livres Canada Books, a non-profit organization. Includes articles on new titles from Canadian publishers, publishers’ associations and their activities, literary and professional events in Canada, and other information.

Available Online
Quill & Quire
vol. 1 (1935)–present (incomplete archive)
current year

A magazine that publishes reviews of new book releases in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and articles about the Canadian publishing market, the book trade, and libraries.

Available Online

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reviewed & updated 31 January 2024 | compiled by Agatha Barc

Last updated: January 31, 2024