News Release

98-04

Carol Shields to Lecture at National Library of Canada

Ottawa, April 15, 1998 -- Is giving your literary papers to the National Library of Canada like giving up part of yourself?

Award-winning novelist Carol Shields ponders the question when she delivers the third National Library Lecture on April 22. She discusses her relationship with her notes and manuscripts and the motivation of the novelist in "The Subjunctive Self". The author will speak at 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Library at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa.

"We are delighted that Ms. Shields is taking part in the National Library Lecture series, and very much look forward to hearing what such a distinguished writer has to say on this intriguing topic," says National Librarian Marianne Scott.

The winner of a long list of literary awards dating back to 1965, Ms. Shields, whose papers are held by the National Library, is probably best known for her highly acclaimed novel, The Stone Diaries, which won the Pulitzer Prize (1995), the Governor General's Award for English-language Fiction (1993) and the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction (1994). Among her other well-known works are The Box Garden (1977), Happenstance (1980), Swann (1987) and her most recent novel, Larry's Party (1997). Ms. Shields, who teaches at the University of Manitoba, is Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg.

Other distinguished speakers in the National Library Lecture series, intended to highlight Canadian writers, have been journalist Robert Fulford and playwright Antonine Maillet. The 1998 National Library Lecture is sponsored by the Friends of the National Library.

-30-

Media contact:

Iris Winston (English)
Line Ménard (French)