What Is 1958 Governor General's Awards

Overview

The 1958 Governor General's Awards marked a pivotal year in Canada's literary recognition, celebrating books published during 1957. These awards, among the most prestigious in Canadian literature, honored authors across five distinct categories, reinforcing national pride in homegrown talent.

Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the 1958 awards reflected a growing cultural identity in post-war Canada. The ceremony, held in December 1958, recognized works that combined artistic excellence with national relevance, setting benchmarks for future Canadian writing.

• Fiction category winner: Hugh MacLennan won for Two Solitudes, a novel exploring the divide between English and French Canada, which became a cornerstone of Canadian literary canon.
• Non-fiction award: Donald Creighton received the honor for John A. Macdonald: The Young Politician, the first volume of a definitive biography of Canada’s first Prime Minister.
• Poetry recognition: James Reaney won for his collection A Suit of Nettles, praised for its lyrical complexity and symbolic depth.
• Drama category: Herman Voaden won for Quiet in the Land, a play examining pacifism and social responsibility during wartime.
• Translation award: The first-ever Governor General’s Award for Translation was given to Alan Brown for rendering Gabrielle Roy’s The Cashier from French to English.

How It Works

The Governor General's Awards process involves nomination, jury evaluation, and final selection by independent panels. For the 1958 awards, books had to be originally written or translated into English or French and published in Canada between January 1 and December 31, 1957.

• Eligibility period:Books published in 1957 were considered; submissions required proof of Canadian authorship and publisher certification.
• Jury composition: Each category had a three-member jury of literary experts appointed by the Canada Council to ensure impartial evaluation.
• Selection criteria: Winners were chosen based on literary merit, originality, and national significance, not popularity or sales figures.
• Prize amount: Each winner received $1,000, a substantial sum equivalent to roughly $10,000 today when adjusted for inflation.
• Announcement timeline: Finalists were notified in November 1958, with the public announcement in December at a ceremony in Ottawa.
• Role of the Governor General: The Governor General, Viscount Vincent Massey, formally bestowed the awards, symbolizing state endorsement of Canadian arts.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1958 awards can be compared with earlier and later years to understand their significance in Canada’s literary evolution.

This comparison shows the growing institutionalization of Canadian literary awards. The 1958 introduction of the Translation category marked a significant step toward bilingual recognition, reflecting Canada’s dual-language identity. Over time, the awards expanded in scope and prize value, but the 1958 edition laid foundational standards for fairness and prestige.

Why It Matters

The 1958 Governor General's Awards were more than literary accolades—they were cultural milestones that elevated Canadian voices during a formative period in national identity.

• Boosted Canadian literature: Winning a Governor General’s Award significantly increased book sales and critical attention for authors like MacLennan and Reaney.
• Encouraged bilingualism: The inclusion of a Translation category in 1958 promoted cross-cultural dialogue between English and French Canadian communities.
• Set literary standards: The rigorous jury process established a model for objective, merit-based recognition in future years.
• Influenced education: Works like Two Solitudes and John A. Macdonald became standard texts in Canadian schools and universities.
• Supported emerging writers: Recognition provided financial and reputational capital, enabling authors to pursue full-time writing careers.
• Shaped national narrative: The awards highlighted themes of unity, history, and identity, helping define Canada’s post-colonial cultural voice.

Today, the 1958 awards are remembered as a turning point when Canadian literature gained formal recognition and began to flourish on the world stage.