Master of the contemporary short story

New Democrats join all Canadians today in congratulating Alice Munro on becoming the first Canadian based writer, and the 13th woman, to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Munro was lauded by the Swedish Academy as “the master of the contemporary short story.”

“This is a moment of great pride for Canada,” said NDP Heritage critic, Pierre Nantel (Longueuil – Pierre-Boucher). “This achievement highlights the importance of supporting Canadian writers and other artists – an area where the federal government has a key role to play.”

The Nobel Prize is the latest in a long list of honours Ms. Munro has received, including the Man Booker International Prize, two Giller Prizes, three Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, the Marian Engel Award and the American National Book Critics Circle Award.

“I could not be more delighted with the news. Alice is a pioneer in the vast and richly talented community of Canadian writers and the best short story writer in the world,” said NDP deputy Heritage critic Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe). “I also know her to be a woman of great humanity. Brava Alice. Canada is proud of you.”