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Latino-Canadian Literature

June 2016

A growing and vibrant community of authors—academics, critics, journalists, cultural promoters, activists, editors, artists—exists in cities and towns across Canada. Its members read each others’ work, attend literary readings, and contribute to each others’ journals and anthologies. Why do they write? In response to this question, the authors featured here list reasons as varied as preserving the Spanish language, publishing together, allegiance to their heritage, and nostalgia, among others. Peruvian-born short fiction author Pablo Salinas describes his own perspective as being broadened by the various places he’s lived in and the languages he’s come into contact with.

Bridging Distances: Three Hispanic Canadian Authors
By María José Giménez
Writing by authors of Latin American descent living in Canada is seldom read, taught, or reviewed beyond the country’s borders.
Trilingual Day of Rain
By Alejandro Saravia
it’s still raining / as it did at the beginning of time
Translated from Spanish by María José Giménez
The Flowers of War
By Alejandro Saravia
the flowers of war / open at night / on boulevard Saint-Laurent
Translated from Spanish by María José Giménez
The God of Tar and Bone
By Alejandro Saravia
a man standing on the tracks / stares at a train as it advances / with a moan of metal and night
Translated from Spanish by María José Giménez
María Times Seven
By Martha Batiz
It was by accident that Doña Toña decided to sell her daughters’ tears.
Translated from Spanish by the author