Canada Council for the Arts announces the finalists for the 2009 Governor General's Literary Awards

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 14, 2009) - The Canada Council for the Arts today announced the finalists for the 2009 Governor General's Literary Awards. The finalists include authors, illustrators and translators from ages 27 to 78. The English and French awards are in the categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, children's literature (text and illustration) and translation. In total, 70 books are shortlisted.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Canada Council involvement with the Governor General's Literary Awards. A total of 1,541 eligible books were submitted for this year's awards. Thirty-eight of the 75 finalists are nominated for the first time. At least seven of the finalists are under the age of 35 and three of the finalists are aboriginal. A sense of belonging, family, war and religion are themes that figure prominently in several of the books.

The names of the finalists, the titles of their works, and the peer assessment committees' citations for each work as well as the names of the members of the 14 committees (seven English and seven French) are listed here:
www.canadacouncil.ca/news/releases/2009/wi128999467161854957

Download images of the shortlisted books:
www.canadacouncil.ca/imagegallery/ga128999385012522209

Additional information about the 2009 Awards is available on the Canada Council website at www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ggla.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
350 Albert Street
Post Office Box 1047

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V8
 www.canadacouncil.ca