Bøker av Don Gutteridge

It is my utter delight to be the publisher of, The Perilous Journey of Gavin the Great. It is filled with cultured metaphors and sophisticated linguistic vocabulary as well as supported refined plot lines. In many ways you can tell that Gutteridge is a consummate poet, of many decades, when you read lines like this: "...their wings, furious with the wet weight of the wind, collapsed without warning, ...". Something that I thought, as I read this fable, is that it is equivalent to an indigenous fable. I don't want to give this notion too much importance but for me it is filled with autochthonous truth. What I mean by that is that the truth of the fable has an indigenous tone rather than descended from "settlers" or "immigrants". As publisher I joyfully agreed to publish this book after only a cursory, scanning read. I instantly fell in love with Gavin and his merry march of characters. It was only after the book was ready to go to press that I finally did a thorough, blanket-over-lap-feet-up-read. It was only then that I discovered the true value of this spellbinding story, even for me a seventy-plus reader. I love how the book starts with, "Long, long ago near the beginning of time" With a chuckle it made me think of the saga movie Star Wars "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." I have been the editor of a number of novels, memoirs and poetry books. As an editor I love the challenge of suggesting to an author that there were too many characters or not enough, or it was essential to remove or add a chapter. With The Perilous Journey of Gavin the Great I can honestly say that I would not suggest the addition or deletion of a single word let alone a paragraph or chapter. Don Gutteridge, now slowly creeping towards 90, decades after his acclaimed CanLit "Marc Edwards Mystery Series", has resurrected his talents with this stunning book. Now with 75 titles under his belt and years of literary teaching he has written a world class fable worthy of distinction, securing his place in CanLit history. I have to say it again, I am proud to be the publisher of this book. The story is set in the dystopian aftermath of "the great burning". Gutteridge quotes one of his characters; "RA-Mosah (the eldest and wisest of the wisdom-dispensing clan) perpetually preached: "Dame Nature, who is herself but another manifestation of Gollah's all-seeing purpose, must right herself so that all things be kept in precise balance like the perfect halves of an apple or a walnut split by a coon's cunning." The rains will stop, the elder-coons assured a pair of droop-winged blackbirds and one drenched jackrabbit who happened to be within earshot, the rains will stop when they must, and not one milli-moment before." The book is filled with stupendous lines like: ""Where are you?" The muffling fog caught his question, and did not answer." Or "The ooze was licking at his lips, tasting him, mocking him." Or "They simply walked, wrapped in their own silence." At the risk of sounding like a self-serving publisher I will say; don't shy away from reading this book of fervent hope and self-discovery, for all ages,

Gilding the Lily is Don Gutteridge's 75th book. One of the finest that he has ever written. Gilding the Lily is intimate and charismatic, as well as soul-stirring. This vibrant latest collection from Gutteridge is for "Anne who made love her gift to the world," the ADDENDUM notes before taking readers on a journey across pages full of memories and poignant emotions. Some pieces are immediate and urging; some are full of insight and wisdom. Continuing his flood of powerful, intimate, and nostalgic poetry, Don Gutteridge has compiled another gem of a collection in Gilding the Lily.

Sailing with the Wind is a book of 2023 poetry by Don Gutteridge published by Wet Ink Books. This latest book consists of short free-verse poems ranging from the small delights of childhood to the discovery of life's bigger passions and griefs. The collection is a series of soulful pieces randomly linked by lingering memories of the past. Themes of childhood bliss, adolescent sexuality, love of nature, familial and friendship ties, all bind together to make this very fine book.

O Frabjous Day! by Don Gutteridge is a dazzling and impressive work from the Canadian Prince of Poetry. The voice in these pages is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and Gutteridge's imagination is extraordinary: there's no pretension; the writing is wholly spontaneous, all heart. Rich imagery and the layered meaning behind the words, however, demand a slow reading on the reader's part. Both a love letter and an invitation to all that's life, the book makes for a mesmerizing read.

Spanning decades and countless collections, Gutteridge's poems are as raw and heart touching as ever, delving into old memories, life, death, love, loss, and longing. Teeming with awe and sensation, these poems delve into memories of yesterday long-gone, moving skillfully from life to death, happiness to grief, boyhood lust to loss, and aging to resurrection. This is a poignant celebration of the pain and pleasure of being alive. Readers seeking contemplative poems executed with style and verve will find themselves besotted.

Drawing on current curriculum, the work and research of renowned scholars, and especially his own teaching experience, Gutteridge examines the nature of student classification based on their understanding of literature, and its devastating impacts on learning progress throughout the years. Chronicling the negative consequences of assigning such categories to students (instead of designing separate programs for each group-forms of writing and expression more suited to their learning style and stage of development-the "general category" is often offered watered down academic courses), Gutteridge shares a number of experimental programs that have attempted to offer a few adjustments over the years (Fidler, 1969; Dixon, 1979; Medway, 1980; Holt, 1964). He hopes that the student classification based on the study of literature will go away as it patronizes and demeans the student groups. Instead, all students will be given equal opportunity to study fine literature. Central to this process is revitalizing a teaching system which incorporates both normal and advanced readers. That way, students, relative to their ability and learning style, will be able to comprehend more complicated texts and learn the moral, cultural, and psychological pleasures of literature on the way. Insightful and reflective, this is another good book from Gutteridge.

A middle-grade novel, a fable about a raccoon who tries to guide his animal brethren home after disaster strikes. When Gavin awakens on a fallen tree trunk, the raccoon is certain the catastrophic flood that hit Earthwood was only a nightmare. But it really happened, and that trunk has likely been floating aimlessly for some time. Luckily, he soon finds his brothers, Trisbert and Cuyler, as well as other "woods-creatures," including rabbits, mice, and a snake. When they finally get an inkling as to where they are, they realize getting back to Earthwood will be an arduous trek-through the predator-filled Forest of Everdark. Gavin, the oldest grandson of Earthwood's "clan coon" head, becomes the flood survivors' leader. They're in danger of terrifying foes, from wolves and coyotes to "universally evil" Tallwalkers who wield lethal "firesticks." Courage is a must, but they'll need brains as well to safely cross bodies of water and outwit predators that would otherwise devour them. All the while, they can only hope their missing friends and families are waiting for them.Gutteridge's gripping novel is often dark; threats against the woods-creatures are constant, and not everyone makes it to the end. It's nevertheless exciting as Gavin and the rest overcome obstacles in their path and enemies (like a fox) form alliances. What little humor there is comes courtesy of the woods-creatures' interpretations of humans, who speak "Gibberlish" and drive "doomsmobiles." These animals constitute a huge, appealing cast, including Gavin, a great commander in the making, and the porcupine Quiver, who either uses words incorrectly (a noble sediment) or simply makes them up (temcrestuous). Along with charming nods to Scripture and literature, from the biblical story of Noah and the flood to the Knights of the Round Table, this journey delivers a handful of surprises, particularly an effective final-act twist.A riveting morality tale with a marvelous forest-dwelling cast in line with Watership Down.

The political elite attends a charity ball at the residence of Humphrey Cardiff. His widowed daughter, Delores, flirts with all the men, enraging their wives. Amidst the political plotting of Marc Edwards and his associates, Delores is found dead, with one of her suitors standing over the body. Marc controversially decides to defend him, while Cobb races to find the truth behind her untimely death Don Gutteridge was born in Sarnia, Ontario and raised in the nearby village of Point Edward. He is the author of twenty-two novels, including the twelve-volume Marc Edwards mysteries. He has published forty books of poetry, one of which, Coppermine, was short-listed for the Governor Generals Award. He is a retired professor, living in London, Ontario.

Someone is killing women in 1841 Toronto. One victim is a singer in a bordello frequented by three prominent men. Another is a man dressed as a woman. The only evidence are a glove and a set of footprints in the snow. Cobb is on the case. Meanwhile, his former comrade Marc Edwards is in Kingston trying to forge an alliance between Upper and Lower Canada for the opening of Parliament.

In Toronto 1839, an abortion goes tragically wrong, killing a 15-year-old maid in the household of the distinguished Baldwin family, enveloping them in a scandal that has political implications for the union of two British colonies, Ontario and Quebec. Accused of raping a minor and causing her death is a beloved Baldwin uncle. Marc Edwards has the challenge of his career in finding the truth.

This locked mansion mystery is set in 1839 at a country estate north of Toronto. Marc and Robert Baldwin have been working tirelessly to effect responsible government in Upper Canada (Ontario). In a few months, Upper and Lower Canada (Quebec) will be joined in a single legislature, and savvy political leaders see this as an opportunity to forge a solid alliance with like-minded Quebec representatives to facilitate democratic reforms. The secret meeting with visitors from the Quebec Rouge Party includes the great Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine.Enemies of responsible government are the ruling class known as the Family Compact who foresee their power and commercial advantage diminished. Spies are everywhere. When a butler is murdered, everyone at the meeting is a suspect. Marc and Cobb have three days to solve it and save Canada for democracy.

In Toronto's rough days of 1839, several elite citizens harbor dark secrets, offering rich compost for a sleazy blackmailer. Caught in the muck is the gallant young Brodie Langford who is desperate to protect his sweetheart from disgrace. When Brodie is arrested for the extortionist's murder, Marc Edwards, now a barrister, struggles to save him from the gallows and to reunite the couple.

In March, 1839, "Bishop-in-Waiting" John Strachan, delivers a fiery sermon that has unexpected consequences-including the very brutal and public murder of a suspected "sodomite." Church politics and the ongoing political debate following the arrival of Lord Durham's Report complicate the investigation started by Constable Cobb and Marc Edwards. A culprit is soon found, but Marc suspects he was a hired assassin and that someone higher up in society is pulling the strings. A number of gentlemen, including members of the clergy, appear to have motive .The trail eventually leads Marc to New York (via the Erie Canal), where the victim's sordid past requires his attention. There he is surprised to meet two women whom he thought never to see again. Meanwhile Cobb continues to investigate on his own, boldly confronting members of the Family Compact, with mixed results. Finally, with the help of the two women and that of the victim's ward, Marc finally unearths the horrifying and unexpected truth. He returns to Toronto in time to meet his newborn child and resolve the case.Don Gutteridge was born in Sarnia and raised in the nearby village of Point Edward. He taught High School English for seven years, later becoming a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Western University, where he is now Professor Emeritus. He is the author of more than seventy books: poetry, fiction and scholarly works in pedagogical theory and practice. He has published twenty-two novels, including the twelve-volume Marc Edwards mystery series, and forty books of poetry, one of which, Coppermine, was short-listed for the 1973 Governor-General's Award. In 1970 he won the UWO President's Medal for the best periodical poem of that year, "Death at Quebec." To listen to interviews with the author, go to: http://thereandthen.podbean.com. Visit his website at dongutteridgewriter.com. Email address: dongutteridge37@gmail.com. Don lives in London, Ontario.