Bait & Switch: Essays, Reviews, Conversations, and Views on Canadian Poetry

By Jim Johnstone

In Bait & Switch, Jim Johnstone?poet, editor, and erstwhile physiologist?turns his considerable analytic powers to Canadian poetry, presenting a series of essays and reviews exploring the state of Canadian poetry in the 21st century through the lens of a trained scientist.

With characteristic empathy and a researcher's eye, Johnstone explores a variety of topics, including the legacy of science poetry in Canada, the spark that gives rise to the pre-poem moment, and technology and its attendant opportunities for artistic collaboration. He also considers major works by both prominent and up-and-coming Canadian poets, from Christian B k and Karen Solie to Nyla Matuk and Michael Prior, and takes a deep dive into career retrospectives by Don McKay, bill bissett, and Carmine Starnino.

But Bait & Switch is far from a cold dissection of contemporary verse; it offers a look into Johnstone's personal evolution as he opts for a writing life based on the ?irresistible force? that is poetry, and gives a behind-the-scenes look at his editorial experience mentoring and promoting Canadian authors.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0889844720
• ISBN13: 9780889844728
• Release Date: October 2024
• Publisher: Porcupine's Quill
• Length: 208 Pages
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.8"