A 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize finalist will be sharing his nominated work during a public reading at Cape Breton University’s Boardmore Playhouse. Alexander MacLeod will read from his first book of short stories, Light Lifting, on Wednesday, March 16 at 11:30 am. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.
Presented by the School of Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Languages and Letters, this event will provide the community with access to a highly notable Canadian author.
“Alexander MacLeod will entertain and edify the audience with readings from his recent collection of short stories that has impressed readers across the country and internationally,” says Dr. Rod Nichols, Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences. “He also has a reputation as an excellent university professor and can be expected to captivate a public audience in the same way that he is known to do with students.”
Dr. Nichols notes part of the School’s mission is to be the primary force behind a vibrant cultural life at CBU. “The playhouse, the art gallery, Centre for Cape Breton Studies, and several academic departments contribute to that role in their distinctive ways. The Languages and Letters Department has always taken the lead in bringing notable literary guests to CBU and it plans to continue doing so in the future, both in cooperation with colleagues within the School and in other units such as the library,” he says. On Tuesday, April 5 renowned Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen will read at Cape Breton University as part of CBU’s Canadian Authors Guest Series.
Light Lifting was also recognized as a 2010 Book of the Year by the editors of The Globe and Mail, Quill and Quire, The Chronicle Herald and Amazon.ca. The collection is currently shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Award (Best First Book, Canada and the Caribbean). MacLeod was born in Inverness, NS, but grew up in Windsor, Ontario. He presently lives in Dartmouth, NS and teaches in the English Department at Saint Mary’s University.
MacLeod will also read during Governors Book Pub on Tuesday, March 15 at 7 pm.
