Revolutions is the first book-length critical survey of twenty-first-century Canadian fiction, with in-depth essays examining subjects such as the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the effects of the digital revolution, and the dark legacy of what has come to be known as the Canadian literary establishment. Throughout, close reading is given to many contemporary authors, with particular attention paid to such central figures as Douglas Coupland and David Adams Richards. Alex Good explains and contextualizes this period in Canadian fiction for the general reader, providing a much-needed critical re-assessment of Canadian writing in the new millennium.

By offering a contrary yet thoughtful position to that taken by our nation’s most prominent literary tastemakers, Good offers a vigorous commentary on the state of Canadian literature—where we are and how we got here.

Alex Good's profile page

Alex Good is the former editor of Canadian Notes & Queries. He reviews regularly for various newspapers and journals, and runs an independent book review site at goodreports.net. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

PRAISE FOR REVOLUTIONS

“Alex Good has two rare qualities—rare these days—that make him a valuable literary critic. He knows how to read, and he never pulls his punches ... The most striking aspect of the essays, however, is not Good’s take on individual writers, but his defence of literacy and the culture of literacy.”—National Post

“Revolutions is intended to wake the Canadian clerisy from their “anti-revolutionary” slumber. This makes for a tremendously powerful, if occasionally overwhelming reading experience, but one of significant value for anyone with even the slightest interest in Canadian writing... this sort of spirited opposition is important in any artistic culture and has been lacking in Canadian letters.”—Toronto Star

PRAISE FOR ALEX GOOD

“A brilliant literary critic … Ruthlessly uncompromising.”—National Post

“Sensitive but fierce.”—Globe and Mail