Lecture to explore modernism in Canadian literature

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/KingJames.jpg” caption=”James King”]McMaster English professor James King will discuss his trials and tribulations in writing the biographies of Margaret Laurence, Farley Mowat and Jack McClelland, a trilogy that chronicles the emergence of modernism in Canadian literature at this Thursday's McKay-Thode Lecture.

Entitled “Reinventing Canadian Literature”, the lecture takes place at 8 p.m. in the Ewart Angus Centre, Rm. 1A1.

King was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He obtained his BA from the University of Toronto and MA and PhD from Princeton University. He joined the Department of English at McMaster in 1971 and was promoted to professor in 1983. From 1984-88 he chaired the McMaster Association for Eighteenth Century Studies. In 1996 he was one of the first four faculty members to the lifetime position of University professor.

During his career at McMaster, he established his reputation as one of Canada's leading biographers.

Alexander McKay joined McMaster in 1957 and was promoted to professor of classics in 1961. He served two terms as chair of Classics and was founding dean of the Faculty of Humanities from 1968 to 1973. He was appointed professor emeritus in 1990.

Henry Thode came to McMaster in 1939 as an assistant professor of chemistry. He was promoted to professor in 1944, named director of research in 1947, head of chemistry in 1948, principal of Hamilton College in 1949, vice-president of the University in 1957 and in 1961 succeeded George Gilmour as President and Vice-Chancellor. He retired as President in 1972.

The McKay-Thode Lecture grew out of a proposal put forward by the late Moran Campbell, McMaster's founding professor of medicine and an international renowned specialist in respiratory medicine.

The free lecture is open to all. A reception will follow. For more information call ext. 76438.