Past Event

This year’s Munro Beattie lecture will be delivered by Giller Prize-winning novelist, and former Carleton student, André Alexis. Born in Trinidad, Alexis grew up in Ottawa. He was awarded the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize for Fifteen Dogs, a novel praised by the jury as “a wonderful and original” work “that challenges the reader to examine their own existence and recall the age old question, what’s the meaning of life?” Fifteen Dogs is the second book in a projected quincunx, or five-part series of novels that also currently includes Pastoral (2013) and The Hidden Keys (2016). Each book in the series plays with a different genre—from the apologue (or moral tale involving animals) of Fifteen Dogs to the Robert Louis Stevenson-inspired adventure story of The Hidden Keys. Alexis will be speaking about the challenges involved in undertaking this innovative and ambitious project, and will read from his most recently published work, as well has his work-in-progress.

This is a free public lecture, and will take place on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm in Azrieli Theatre 101. There is no reserved seating so arriving early is recommended. The lecture will be followed by a gala reception in celebration of CU 75, as well as the 65th anniversary of the Department of English.