The Jonas Variations: A Literary Séance is a one-of-a-kind collection: free translations,

imitations, variations, reverberations, and refutations of poems in other languages that inspired its authorâ?"poet, writer and journalist George Jonasâ?"to words in English. The poets span centuries; the languages include Latin, Arabic, French, German, Hungarian, Russian, and Spanish. A thumbnail portrait of each poet in the context of his times precedes Jonasâ?Ts versions and re-visionings: poets as well known as Catullus, Dante, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Heine, and Rilke rub shoulders with names much less familiar to most readers. Jonas conjures up the spirits of his poets, dialogues with them, and in doing so gives them new life. This romp through multilingual literary history is at once a very personal project and an inspiring example of onemanâ?Ts lifetime engagement with poetry.

GEORGE JONAS is the author of fourteen books, including the international bestsellers Vengeance and By Persons Unknown, with Barbara Amiel, and his novel Final Decree and a memoir, Beethoven's Mask. Currently, he writes two weekly columns, one for the National Post and another in syndication for CanWest News Service. His columns and articles have appeared in the National Review, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Wall Street Journal, and have been collected and published as books. He has written, produced, and directed over two hundred dramas and docudramas for the CBC, including the award-winning series The Scales Of Justice. His media awards in Canada and abroad include the Edgar Allan Poe Award for the Best Crime Non-Fiction Book, two Nelly Awards for the Best Radio Program, a National Magazine Award, and two Gemini Awards for the Best TV Movie and for the Best Short Dramatic Program. George Jonas and his wife live in Toronto, Ontario.

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