A Tale of Monstrous Extravagance: Imagining Multilingualism

by Tomson Highway

"Speaking one language, I submit, is like living in a house with one window only..."

From his legendary birth in a snow bank in northwestern Manitoba, through his metamorphosis to citizen-artist of the world, playwright, pianist, polyglot, storyteller, and irreverent disciple of the Trickster, Tomson Highway rides roughshod through the languages and communities that have shaped him. Cree, Dene, Latin, French, English, Spanish, and the universal language of music have opened windows and widened horizons in Highway's life. Readers who can hang on tight--Highway fans, culture mavens, cunning linguists, and fellow tricksters--will experience the profundity of Highway's humour, for as he says, "In Cree, you will laugh until you weep." Introduction by Christine Sokaymoh Frederick.
"Fasten your chastity belts, ladies and gentlemen, it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

From his legendary birth in a snowbank in northwestern Manitoba, through his metamorphosis to citizen-artist of the world, polyglot, playwright, pianist, storyteller, and irreverent disciple of the Trickster, Tomson Highway rides roughshod through the languages and communities that have shaped him. Cree, Dene, Latin, French, English, Spanish, and the universal language of music have opened windows and widened horizons in Highway's life. Readers who can hang on tight--Highway fans, culture mavens, cunning linguists, and fellow tricksters--will experience the profundity of Highway's humour, for as he says, "In Cree, you will laugh until you weep."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1772120413
• ISBN13: 9781772120417
• Release Date: February 2015
• Publisher: University of Alberta Press
• Length: 56 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.2" x 8.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up