Marilyn Bowering

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Marilyn Bowering (born April 13, 1949) is a Canadian poet,^[1] novelist and playwright. As well as several adventure novels and many books of poetry, Bowering has also scripted a number of dramatic works and a libretto.

Personal life[edit]

Bowering was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. She studied English at the University of Victoria, and graduated with a Master of Arts degree.^[2]

Bowering presently lives in Sooke, British Columbia; she is married and has one daughter.^[3]

Career[edit]

In 1987, Bowering wrote a book of poetic monologues, titled Anyone Can See I Love You, which was later adapted as a radio drama.^[4] In 1998 she wrote an adventure story, Visible Worlds, which received positive reviews.^[5][6]

In 2012, her book of poetry, Soul Mouth, was published.^[7]

In 2013 Bowering worked with composer Gavin Bryars to create the libretto for a chamber opera, Marilyn Forever, about Marilyn Monroe.^[8][9]

Awards and honours[edit]

• National Magazine Award for Poetry, Gold 1978
• Nominated for the 1984 Governor General's Award (The Sunday Before Winter)
• National Magazine Award for Poetry, Silver 1989
• Long Poem Prize, The Malahat Review, 1994
• Pat Lowther Award for poetry, 1997 (Autobiography)
• Nominated for the 1997 Governor General's Award (Autobiography)
• Nominated for the 1997 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize (Autobiography)
• Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, 1998 (Visible Worlds)
• Short-listed for the Orange Prize, 1999 (Visible Worlds)
• Short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, 2004 (The Alchemy of Happiness)
• Short-listed for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize 2007 (What It Takes to Be Human)

Publications[edit]

Novels[edit]

• The Visitors Have All Returned - 1979
• To All Appearances a Lady - 1989
• Visible Worlds - 1997
• Cat's Pilgrimage - 2004
• What It Takes to Be Human - 2007

Poetry[edit]

• The Liberation of Newfoundland - 1973
• One Who Became Lost - 1976
• The Killing Room - 1977
• The Book of Glass- 1978
• Sleeping With Lambs - 1980
• Giving Back Diamonds - 1982
• The Sunday Before Winter - 1984
• Grandfather was a Soldier - 1987
• Anyone Can See I Love You - 1987
• Calling All the World - 1989
• Love As It Is - 1993
• Autobiography - 1996
• Human Bodies: Collected Poems 1987-1999 - 1999
• The Alchemy of Happiness - 2003
• Green - 2007
• Soul Mouth - 2012
• Threshold - 2015

Other[edit]

• Many Voices, An anthology of contemporary Canadian Indian Poetry, co-edited with D. Day. - 1977
• In Fine Form: The Canadian Book of Form Poetry, edited by Kate Braid and Sandy Shreve - 2005

Drama[edit]

• Anyone Can See I Love You - 1988
• Hajimari-No-Hajimari, four myths of the Pacific Rim - 1986
• Temple of the Stars - 1996

Radio[edit]

• Grandfather was a Soldier - 1983
• Anyone Can See I Love You - 1986
• Laika and Folchakov, a Journey in Time and Space - 1987
• A Cold Departure, the Liaison of George Sand and Frederic Chopin -1989

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Marilyn Bowering
• Marilyn Bowering fonds at University of Victoria, Special Collections
• Archives of Marylin Bowering (Marylin Bowering fonds, R15614) are held at Library and Archives Canada