20 Jack Hodgins
Anthropologists must be wondering why Vancouver Island, relative to its
population, produces a disproportionate number of first-rate writers—and
the odd really amazing jazz musician. Jack Hodgins was born, raised, and
still lives on Vancouver Island. It is from that perspective that he has
been producing award-winning books for the past 40 years. A comprehensive
list of his work would run to pages. Even an abridged highlight package
must include Spit Delaney’s Island (1976), The Resurrection of
Joseph Bourne (1979), The Barclay Family Theatre (1983), The
Honorary Patron (1987), Over Forty in Broken Hill (1992), Broken
Ground (1999), Distance (2003) and Damage Done By the Storm
(2004). A similarly truncated list of awards and nominations should
include the Governor General’s Award, Commonwealth Prize, Ethel Wilson
Prize, Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, and the
Leacock Award for Humour. Jack Hodgins was named a Member of the Order of
Canada in 2009. His latest novel, available in May, is The Master of
Happy Endings (Thomas Allen).
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