The Griffin Poetry Prize Announces the 2017 International and Canadian Shortlist

TORONTO – April 11, 2017 – Scott Griffin, founder of The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry is pleased to announce the International and Canadian shortlist for this year’s prize. Judges Sue Goyette (Canada), Joan Naviyuk Kane (USA) and George Szirtes (UK) each read 617 books of poetry, from 39 countries, including 23 translations.

The seven finalists – four International and three Canadian – will be invited to read in Toronto at Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory in the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto, on Wednesday, June 7 at 7.30 p.m. The seven finalists will each be awarded $10,000 for their participation in the Shortlist Readings.

The winners, to be announced at the Griffin Poetry Prize Awards on Thursday, June 8, will each be awarded $65,000.

Each year, The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry presents an anthology of poems selected from the shortlisted books, published by House of Anansi Press. Royalties from The Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology are donated to UNESCO’s World Poetry Day.

Tickets for the Shortlist Readings to be held on Wednesday, June 7, at Koerner Hall at The Royal Conservatory in the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto are available at http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/2017-griffin-poetry-prize-shortlist-readings or by calling (416) 408-0208.

Note: The publishers mentioned in our release are those who submitted the books.

Note to booksellers: Griffin Poetry Prize book stickers are supplied free of charge by The Griffin Trust. Contact info@griffinpoetryprize.com to place an order. Winner book stickers will be available after June 8.

Please direct other inquiries as follows:

Media Inquiries:Melissa Shirley Telephone: (647) 389-9510 publicity@griffinpoetryprize.com

General Inquiries:Ruth Smith, Executive Director Telephone: (905) 618-0420 info@griffinpoetryprize.com

Shortlisted Publishers’ Web sites:

Alice James Books:
alicejamesbooks.org

Archipelago Books:
www.archipelagobooks.org

BookThug:
www.bookthug.ca

Jonathan Cape:
www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/publishers/vintage/jonathan-cape/

W.W. Norton & Company:
www.wwnorton.com

Picador:
www.picador.com

Talonbooks:
www.talonbooks.com

Wave Books:
www.wavepoetry.com

 

Shortlist summary, poet bios and citations

Download press release, poet bios and citations | Download photos

Purchase 2017 Griffin Prize Anthology and shortlist books online

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