July 5, 2011

Robert Kroetsch

McNally Robinson, Grant Park
Monday, July 11 - 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm 

The Manitoba Writers’ Guild joins with others in grieving the passing of acclaimed novelist and poet Robert Kroetsch. 

The noted writer was killed on Tuesday, June 21, in a car crash east of Leduc, Alberta, while returning home from the Artspeak poetry festival in Canmore.

The Studhorse Man brought him to the forefront of Canadian contemporary literature. 
It won the Governor General’s Literary Award and established him as a humourist and commentator on prairie life.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kroetsch published a series of poetry that he gathered in what he called Field Notes. The most popular of these was Seed Catalogue
Kroetsch was also known for his venturesome critical essays about writing.

Kroestch's most recent published work of poetry was Too Bad, subtitled "Sketches Toward a Self-Portrait." It was Kroetsch’s exploration of autobiography as an imperfect method of documenting life.

Kroetsch was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2004 for his contributions to Canadian culture. 
He received the Lieutenant Governor’s Alberta Distinguished Artist Award this spring, and the Golden Pen Award last month.

A generous and affirming man, Kroetsch showed a rare combination of wonder and sophistication, rejoicing in discovery, and supporting what others were doing.

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