I've read Lament for a literature and the solutions it sets out for an improved Canadian literary industry are all doable and impactful. We just need to do it. I was also at the launch of his book and heard him speak. He has done the research and spoke of Canada's golden era of publishing. So much knowledge in that book.
One minor note: a Quebec publisher putting out a translated version of a Tom Clancy novel gets a much smaller share of the Canada Book Fund pie. Only Canadian-authored titles are considered eligible, however a "translated" title gets funding, but at only about 25% of what a fully eligible title would get. Still, it's something. Anyway, Quebec has built an literary ecosystem that should be a model for most of the western world, from up to a dozen hugely popular book fairs throughout the province, a vast network of very good independent bookstores that spotlights and supports Quebec-authored books, a media that covers it, etc, etc.
It's been decades since we had something resembling a federal cultural policy and I don't think anyone in Ottawa cares enough to read your brilliant piece about why. Hence the succession of ministers in the portfolio.
I write in English in Quebec. I don't know where the readers of Quebec books are although I see the books in local libraries and school reading lists and so on, large amounts of them purchased with generous subsidies. Over the years I've noticed the writers who get noticed in Quebec usually move elsewhere as soon as they do (with the exception of Louise Penny!)
I have my local public library order a copy of every Sutherland House books noted here, and find they do go out regularly. (Retired reference librarian here.)
I think Canadians want to read more about Canada and that is why they do so well.
Tyler Dawson's most recent one on The Republic of Alberta is doing especially well given the topic and articles by Dawson are appearing in the media, such as The Globe and Mail.
“ The cultural universe, for federal Liberals, begins and ends in Quebec.” Really? A subjective, disappointing comment in an otherwise interesting discussion.
Quebec has had a more publisher friendly world for at least the last thirty years, since I've been following it. A strong and protected retail sector is important and Quebec bookstores benefit from this. Have a look at the Netherlands which publishes profitably in Dutch. Go figure. I look forward to the next segment.
It makes sense and I'm not sure if anything can be done.
French readers read Quebec authors but I bet they read a ton of translated US authors (funded by the gov). The article does not indicate how much of the funding is used for US author translation, but my guess is that it's a lot. I'm not sure if the scale of translated books would survive w/o gov money.
If the rest of Canada spoke Swedish, then the ratio of US author translated to Swedish Canada would be similar (if gov funded). All to say that English Canada competes with US w/o any funding needed for translation (and the resulting local publishing/printing/distribution).
Canadian English authors struggle somewhat to compete on scale with US published authors and their printing/distribution. Despite this, Canadian's read quite a bit from Canadian authors, so it's not a failure. It would be interesting to know the ratio of Quebec author sales relative to all Quebec book sales (regardless of language origin).
Canadian writing and publishing deserve far better. It's a very long shot but perhaps it will help the situation that Marc Miller's father, Carmen is a (former McGill) historian.
I've read Lament for a literature and the solutions it sets out for an improved Canadian literary industry are all doable and impactful. We just need to do it. I was also at the launch of his book and heard him speak. He has done the research and spoke of Canada's golden era of publishing. So much knowledge in that book.
One minor note: a Quebec publisher putting out a translated version of a Tom Clancy novel gets a much smaller share of the Canada Book Fund pie. Only Canadian-authored titles are considered eligible, however a "translated" title gets funding, but at only about 25% of what a fully eligible title would get. Still, it's something. Anyway, Quebec has built an literary ecosystem that should be a model for most of the western world, from up to a dozen hugely popular book fairs throughout the province, a vast network of very good independent bookstores that spotlights and supports Quebec-authored books, a media that covers it, etc, etc.
It's been decades since we had something resembling a federal cultural policy and I don't think anyone in Ottawa cares enough to read your brilliant piece about why. Hence the succession of ministers in the portfolio.
I write in English in Quebec. I don't know where the readers of Quebec books are although I see the books in local libraries and school reading lists and so on, large amounts of them purchased with generous subsidies. Over the years I've noticed the writers who get noticed in Quebec usually move elsewhere as soon as they do (with the exception of Louise Penny!)
I have my local public library order a copy of every Sutherland House books noted here, and find they do go out regularly. (Retired reference librarian here.)
I think Canadians want to read more about Canada and that is why they do so well.
Tyler Dawson's most recent one on The Republic of Alberta is doing especially well given the topic and articles by Dawson are appearing in the media, such as The Globe and Mail.
“ The cultural universe, for federal Liberals, begins and ends in Quebec.” Really? A subjective, disappointing comment in an otherwise interesting discussion.
Quebec has had a more publisher friendly world for at least the last thirty years, since I've been following it. A strong and protected retail sector is important and Quebec bookstores benefit from this. Have a look at the Netherlands which publishes profitably in Dutch. Go figure. I look forward to the next segment.
Fantastic context. Thank you!
It makes sense and I'm not sure if anything can be done.
French readers read Quebec authors but I bet they read a ton of translated US authors (funded by the gov). The article does not indicate how much of the funding is used for US author translation, but my guess is that it's a lot. I'm not sure if the scale of translated books would survive w/o gov money.
If the rest of Canada spoke Swedish, then the ratio of US author translated to Swedish Canada would be similar (if gov funded). All to say that English Canada competes with US w/o any funding needed for translation (and the resulting local publishing/printing/distribution).
Canadian English authors struggle somewhat to compete on scale with US published authors and their printing/distribution. Despite this, Canadian's read quite a bit from Canadian authors, so it's not a failure. It would be interesting to know the ratio of Quebec author sales relative to all Quebec book sales (regardless of language origin).
Canadian writing and publishing deserve far better. It's a very long shot but perhaps it will help the situation that Marc Miller's father, Carmen is a (former McGill) historian.
I love your newsletter, and appreciate all the research that you put into it, but damn does it leave me frustrated, if not furious.
To see these stats in action, come to the Salon du livre de Montréal 2026 at the end of November.