Reingard M. Nischik, ed.. The Canadian Short Story: Interpretations. Rochester: Camden House, 2007. x + 426 pp. $75.00, cloth, ISBN 978-1-57113-127-0.
Reviewed by Jonathan A. Allan
Published on H-Canada (February, 2008)
Reingard M. Nischik has compiled a collection a transnational project insofar as there is a persis‐ of essays on the Canadian short story ranging tent recognition of other literary traditions, even from its beginning through the end of the twenti‐ though the volume does not provide a truly "com‐ eth century.[1] The text ofers a wide range of es‐ parative" analysis between these literatures and says and perspectives, all by European academics Canadian literature. who "are or have been afliated with German, Perhaps of interest to many scholars of liter‐ Austrian, and Swiss universities" (p. ix).[2] The ary studies, this collection is admittedly "conser‐ text is as much a project of literary interpreta‐ vative" because it is based primarily on a statisti‐ tions as an attempt at a literary history of the cal review of anthologies of Canadian short sto‐ Canadian short story. Because of its historical ries, and the most popular authors and stories component, this collection presents a selection of were selected for inclusion (p. 2). Subsequently, stories chronologically instead of thematically or this volume establishes, though it may not intend regionally. A chronological organization permits to, a canon of the Canadian short story. Unfortu‐ readers the opportunity to consider the discus‐ nately, a younger and lesser-known generation of sions occurring at a similar moment in time writers is left untouched and unstudied. While among stories, authors, and critics alike. Due to this method may appear irresponsible to some this chronological ordering of the text there is an critics, it should not be held against the value of impetus to consider the nature of the Canadian this volume. The collection works to evaluate and short story in relation to the time in which it was interpret these selected stories from a variety of written rather than or in addition to, for instance, literary perspectives, each chapter includes a thematic or regional consideration. Likewise, the complete bibliography, and, in many cases, a sub‐ book provides a "map" of the Canadian short sto‐ stantial number of footnotes provide further ry in a "Time Chart" that positions Canadian liter‐ sources that may be of interest. Likewise, Nis‐ ature alongside American and British literatures chik's introductory chapter clearly explains what (pp. 389-397). This project is both a "national" and H-Net Reviews the book does and does not consider; for example, but also in Canadian short fction" (p. 31). Many French-Canadian stories are only mentioned with‐ chapters make allusions and references to the in the introduction and a few footnotes. question of gender, even though gender is not the The majority of essays provide close readings, named subject of these chapters. rather than theoretical readings, of short stories; As can be expected, this volume concerns it‐ that is, there is a general favoring of traditional self with prominent themes in Canadian litera‐ interpretation that can be found in "national" lit‐ ture, including "Canadianness" (from Silvia Mer‐ erature departments instead of more theoretically genthal's essay [p. 192]), the indigenous/native driven approaches that are commonly found in voice, immigration, urban versus rural, the ques‐ comparative literature and/or cultural studies. Al‐ tion of the United States, the matter of "Two Soli‐ though, in most cases, this approach does not dis‐ tudes," and issues popular to contemporary cul‐ tract the reader, a volume such as this may bene‐ tural/literary theory (postcolonialism, imperial‐ ft from further emphasis on cultural studies and ism, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, autobiogra‐ comparative research. A few articles, such as Di‐ phy, etc.). The issue of identity, particularly the eter Meindl's chapter on Sinclair Ross, clearly question of gender as mentioned above, emerges draw on, and perhaps favor, theoretical research. as the persistent theme. Wolfgang Klooss, for in‐ In Meindl's essay, such theorists as Martin Heideg‐ stance, refers to the "space between fction and ger, Luce Irigaray, Mikhail Bakhtin, and Helene autobiography and the role of the border in the Cixous appear in the development of the argu‐ defnition of identity" in his chapter on Clark ment. In contrast, other essays make use of a Blaise (p. 236). As such, the Canadian short story short bibliography and little theory, and favor addresses more than one topic, such as gender, close readings, such as Stefan Ferguson's chapter and instead focuses on a series of questions deal‐ that draws on only one piece of criticism and a bi‐ ing with a the search for identity found in Cana‐ ography. This is as much a commentary on the da's literary culture. For example, Christina Stro‐ study of literature as it is an interesting mode of bel writes that "June Rule calls herself both a les‐ interpretation. bian and a feminist, thereby taking a double In many instances throughout the collection, stand" (p. 301). Many chapters begin to provide a chapters are in dialogue with one another and in‐ variety of tautological confgurations to describe terpretations begin to repeat and overlap. For in‐ an author. According to Fabienne C. Quennet, stance, contributors persistently question mas‐ Mordecai Richler, for instance, is a "third-genera‐ culinity in the early Canadian short story. This tion Canadian Jew," or Eva Gruber celebrates question appears in the chapters by Konrad Gross, Thomas King as "Canada's foremost Native writer" Julia Breitbach, Martina Seifert, Paul Goetsch, and (pp. 149, 353). Thus, even when not explicitly Meindl. Gender, more generally, likewise emerges about identity, the contributors often inform the repeatedly. In her introduction, Nischik remarks reader of the author's identity. that "not only do the three leading writers of the The volume is remarkably accessible as it Canadian short story happen to be female, but generally shies away from unnecessary verbosity such a large number of female authors have writ‐ or jargon. Each chapter opens and closes in the ten in the genre that this even gender distribution same fashion. They begin with an introduction to seems self-evident today. It is noteworthy, howev‐ the author of the short story that generally in‐ er, that this state of afairs has partly resulted in cludes biographical details. This introduction is gender-sensitive and gender oriented writing followed by a brief literary history of the author. style not only in Canadian literature in general, Finally, the chapter ends with the interpretation
2 H-Net Reviews of the work at hand. This volume is ideal for ny, the War in Europe, and Myerson's Daughter scholars interested in introductory overviews of Bella" (1956); Sheila Watson, "Antigone" (1959); the Canadian short story and for undergraduate Hugh Hood, "Flying a Red Kite" (1962); Mavis Gal‐ courses addressing the Canadian short story. Giv‐ lant, "The Ice Wagon Going Down the Street" en the methodology used in selecting the stories, (1963); Alice Munro, "Boys and Girls" (1964); Mar‐ it could also accompany a popular anthology of garet Laurence, "The Loons" (1966); Clark Blaise, Canadian short stories. "A Class of New Canadians" (1970); Audrey Overall, this is a useful introductory text to Thomas, "Aquarius" (1971); Rudy Wiebe, "Where the Canadian short story, though it also extends is the Voice Coming from?" (1971); Norman beyond introductions and simple readings with Levine, "We All Begin in a Little Magazine" essays on the story of the Canadian Renaissance (1972); John Metcalf, "The Strange Aberration of often adopting theoretical readings, such as Nis‐ Mr. Ken Smythe" (1973); Jane Rule, "Lilian" chik's "(Un-)Doing Gender: Alice Munro, 'Boys and (1977); Jack Hodgins, "The Concert Stages of Eu‐ Girls,' " which, as the title would suggest, draws rope" (1978); William Dempsey Valgardson, "A heavily on the writings of Judith Butler, particu‐ Matter of Balance" (1982); Margaret Atwood, "Sig‐ larly Undoing Gender (2004). It is hopeful that a nifcant Moments in the Life of My Mother" paperback edition will be released, making the (1983); Leon Rooke, "The Woman Who Talked to volume even more accessible. This collection Horses" (1984); Thomas King, "Borders" (1991); moves beyond Margaret Atwood, who Nischik Carol Shields, "Our Men and Women" (1999); and refers to as "the acknowledged fgurehead of Janice Kulyk Keefer, "Dreams:Storms:Dogs" Canadian literature" and "Canada's most impor‐ (1999). tant writer," and works to show Canada's literary [2]. Nischik includes chapters by Heinz Antor, diversity by means of commonly anthologized au‐ Rudolf Bader, Georgiana Banita, Gordon Bölling, thors (pp. 26, 331). Indeed, this is a text that shows Julia Breitbach, Stefan Ferguson, Nadja Gernalz‐ the breadth and depth of the Canadian short story ick, Brigitte Glaser, Paul Goestch, Konrad Gro?, from a wide range of perspectives, theories, and Eva Gruber, Lothar Hönnighausen, Heinz Ick‐ approaches. The Canadian Short Story is, as its stadt, Wolfgang Kloo?, Nina Kück, Martin Kuester, editor would hope, a celebration of Canada's liter‐ Maria and Martin Löschnigg, Dieter Meindl, Silvia ary culture. Mergenthal, Nischik, Fabienne C. Quennet, Caro‐ Notes line Rosenthal, Martina Seifert, Christina Strobel, Waldemar Zacharasiewicz, and Jutta Zimmerman. [1]. The edited collection includes interpreta‐ tions of the following short stories (in order of presentation): Charles G. D. Roberts, "Do Seek Their Meat from God" (1892); Stephen Leacock, "The Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias" (1912); Raymond Knister, "The First Day of Spring" (c. 1924-25); Frederick Philip Grove, "Snow" (1926/1932); Morley Callaghan, "Last Spring They Came Over" (1927); Sinclair Ross, "The Lamp at Noon" (1938); Ethel Wilson, "We Have to Sit Opposite" (1945); Hugh Garner, "One- Two-Three Little Indians" (1950); Joyce Marshall, "The Old Woman" (1952); Mordecai Richler, "Ben‐
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Citation: Jonathan A. Allan. Review of Nischik, Reingard M., ed. The Canadian Short Story: Interpretations. H-Canada, H-Net Reviews. February, 2008.
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