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The Penguin Book of Canadian Short Stories, edited by Jane Urquhart, has become the flashpoint for one of the sharpest literary debates Canada has ever seen, reports the Toronto Star. In her introduction, Urquhart confesses to a lack of familiarity with Canadian short stories, having paid more attention in recent years to "the short story's fat, loud cousin, the novel".
This has led to some criticising her selection: "Enter two of our leading literary magazines: The New Quarterly and Canadian Notes and Queries (TNQ and CNQ to their friends). Surprised at who didn't make the cut for Urquhart's anthology, they have joined forces to celebrate a Salon des Refusés, featuring stories by 20 writers (10 in each magazine) not included in the Penguin Book. (The Salon holds a panel discussion this Wednesday at the Gladstone.)"