Al Purdy (1918–2000)
Author of Rooms for Rent in the Outer Planets: Selected Poems 1962-1996
About the Author
The author of 30 or so volumes of poetry, Al Purdy is admired for "his fascination with observed detail and his rhythmic skill with laconic idiom," in the words of W. H. New. In 1978, Being Alive offered a selection of Purdy's best work from the previous 25 years, and in 1986 Collected Poems: show more 1956-1986 appeared, with 250 poems out of the 700 he had published. Although a prolific poet, Purdy is also a stern critic of his own work. Born in a small town on the eastern end of Lake Ontario, Purdy has remained in that area most of his life. From what he called a "Bush land, scrub land," he has drawn the inspiration and subject matter for much of his poetry. His extensive travels are reflected in his poetry, as in the 1984 volume Piling Blood. Showing his continuing development as a writer, the poems in A Woman on the Shore (1990) are more intense than much of his earlier work. Purdy died in North Saanich, B.C., on April 21, 2000. His final collection of poetry, Beyond Remembering: The Collected Poems of Al Purdy, was released posthumously in the fall of 2000. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Memorial statue of Alfred Purdy, in Toronto, by Edwin and Veronica Dam de Nogales. 2008
Series
Works by Al Purdy
Wild grape wine 2 copies
Home country : selected poems 2 copies
Say the Names 1 copy
Lament for Bukowski 1 copy
Purdy Selected. 1 copy
Love in a burning building 1 copy
In Mexico 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Purdy, Alfred Wellington
- Birthdate
- 1918-12-30
- Date of death
- 2000-04-21
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Canada
- Place of death
- Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Places of residence
- Wooler, Ontario, Canada (birth)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Occupations
- poet
novelist
Members
Reviews
North of Summer: Poems from Baffin Island by Alfred Purdy
I loved this book which I bought because it was signed by Al Purdy plus two other poets. Previously I had only read one or two of his poems in anthologies. Like Purdy said somewhere in the volume, objective reading of the north doesn't give one a sense of what it is like to be there. This book vividly captures the essence of Purdy's experience in the north. The verse was easy reading even when referencing legends or mythology. I especially liked his depictions of the ever present howling dogs.
I reviewed this book for BC Studies: "Nicholas Bradley is to be commended for this edited collection of Earle Birney and Al Purdy’s correspondence. As might be expected from two epic figures of Canadian literature who lived and worked in British Columbia, many of these poets’ letters relate to this province directly or indirectly. The volume also shows both men connecting to other iconic authors linked to British Columbia, including Malcolm Lowry, George Woodcock, bill bissett, George Bowering, and Robin Blaser. Bradley’s exemplary introduction, with its thorough editorial apparatus and clear writing, will be accessible to scholarly and general readers alike."
http://www.bcstudies.com/?q=book-reviews/we-go-far-back-time-letters-earle-birne...… (more)
http://www.bcstudies.com/?q=book-reviews/we-go-far-back-time-letters-earle-birne...… (more)
Listening to Al Purdy read his poetry at UBC when I was a grad student literally changed my life as a writer. He was so grounded and funny and deep simultaneously. It was as if I suddenly realized I didn't have to fake anything anymore, that I could relax and throw all of myself roughly and imperfectly into my writing. That perhaps I too was a sensitive man!
the collected works of Al Purdy - a legendary canadian poet who died in 2002 - i haven’t actually read this whole book yet. Purdy is my favourite canadian poet, and his works are redolent of the land, culture and politics of bc and the north particularly (although he was born in ontario, he spent much of his life in the west). two of his works that have moved me particularly are “say the namesâ€? and “trees at the arctic circleâ€? - which are evocative of the land-base from which they rose. there are also several poems in this collection about purdy’s time in cuba in the early 60s, his chance meeting with che guevara and reflections on hearing castro speak. purdy drank and travelled and chain-smoked - and wrote poetry that reflected travels both sublime and ludicrous. if you like poetry and haven’t read purdy - this is the best collection of his works to date. (by the way - chapters carries almost no canadian poets - i had to go to people’s co-op books to find this in the city)… (more)
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- Works
- 43
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 389
- Popularity
- #62,204
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 4
- ISBNs
- 51
- Favorited
- 2