Poet and author Tom Dawe took home a $250 cash prize Tuesday night for winning the 2011 Heritage and History Book Award for “Where Genesis Begins,” published by Breakwater Books.
Sponsored by the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the award alternates between works of fiction and children’s/young adult books in one year, and poetry and non-fiction in the following year.
The prize is granted to a work of literature that exemplifies excellence in the interpretation of the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Gemma Hickey, president of the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (WANL), presented Dawe with the award at the WANL annual holiday party at The Ship Pub in St. John’s.
“Where Genesis Begins” is described by the publisher as “a collaboration of two of Newfoundland’s foremost artists: Tom Dawe, a profoundly visual poet, and Gerald Squires, a profoundly poetic painter.” It contains 37 poems by Dawe, 29 of which have not been published before, and 71 artworks by Squires.
“For those of us born and raised on this island, in this province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” reads a quote from artist Christopher Pratt, “hard-wired into its weathers, tides and history, the combination of Tom Dawe and Gerry Squires resonates like fish and brewis — not necessarily in that order.”
Dawe, who has just been named a member of the Order of Canada, is also St. John’s Poet Laureate. He is a lifetime member of the WANL and has been elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council Hall of Honour.
“The writers’ alliance is delighted to work with the Historic Sites Association to present the Heritage and History Book Award,” said Thea Morash, WANL’s executive director. “This award recognizes the important role of the literary arts in celebrating the heritage and history of Newfoundland and Labrador. The entire shortlist was worthy of attention.”
The other three shortlisted works were: “Never More There,” by Stephen Rowe, “Shouting, Embracing and Dancing with Ecstasy: The Growth of Methodism in Newfoundland, 1774–1874,” by Calvin Hollett, and “Battlefront Newfoundland: Britain’s Oldest Colony at War, 1939-1945,” by Jack Fitzgerald.
The shortlist for the Heritage and History Book Award is chosen from books submitted to the Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards.
The jury for the award was composed of members and emeritus members of the historic sites association board of directors.
More information on the award and the Writer’s Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador, can be found online at www.wanl.ca.
telegram@thetelegram.com
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
