Hélène Monette wrote this book to honour her sister Thérèse, who passed away in 2005. True to her sister's vision, the poet explores the wonder inhabiting the present moment. With this collection, which was awarded the prestigious Governor General's Award in 2009, the poet offers a celebration of the bond between the two sisters and a moving tribute to their extraordinary friendship. Thérèse pour Joie et Orchestre is her twelfth book, and the first to be translated into English.

Hélène Monette's profile page

Jo-Anne Elder was a member of the Romance Languages Department in 1990-1991. Since then, she has taught French part-time and more recently has taught in the Gender Studies Program. Active as a writer, translator, and editor, she wrote Postcards from Ex-Lovers (Broken Jaw Press, 2005) and has translated many works from French into English. Three of her translations — a novel (Tales from Dog Island: St. Pierre et Miquelon, Killick, 2002) and two books of poems (Beatitudes, Goose Lane, 2007, and One, Goose Lane, 2009) — were shortlisted for Governor General's Awards. She is editor of la revue ellipse magazine, a journal devoted to Canadian literature in translation.

Jo-Anne Elder's profile page

In Thérèse pour joie et orchestre, the poet transforms the sister she lost to illness into a happy spirit floating over people and places. This elegy — is astonishing in its ability to touch the reader. A magnificent ode in a voice that is generous and powerful. ” Governor General's Literary Award Jury