For those of you who don’t already know, I have a thing for Thomas Raddall’s books. So I’ve decided to make reading his books an official project of mine, as well as reading all the recipients of the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award.

The Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award was first presented in 1991. Established with an endowment by Thomas Head Raddall himself, and with ongoing support from the Raddall family, this award honours the work of fiction writers in the Atlantic region and, as the original benefactor envisioned, provides “the gift of time and peace of mind” so essential to the creation of new work.

This way I can celebrate Thomas Raddall and his work by reading from some more current (and alive) Atlantic Canadian writers, rather than just one that is no longer around.

Books written by Thomas H. Raddall

The Nymph and the Lamp (1950)

Halifax Warden of the North (1948)

Hangman’s Beach (1979)

The Governor’s Lady (1960)

His Majesty’s Yankees (1977)

Roger Sudden (1944)

Pride’s Fancy (1974)

Tidefall (1953)

The Path of Destiny (1957)

The Wings of Night (1956)

At the Tide’s Turn (1959)

In My Time: A Memoir (1976)

Recipients of the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award

1991: The Divine Ryans by Wayne Johnston

1992: The Last Tasmanian by Herb Curtis

1993: The Afterlife of George Cartwright by John Steffler

1994: For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down by David Adams Richards

1995: Waiting for Time by Bernice Morgan

1996: A Marriage of Masks by M.T. Dohaney

1997: Acadia by Alfred Silver

1998: Awake When All the World is Asleep by Shree Ghatage

1999: The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston

2000: No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

2001: Purple for Sky by Carol Bruneau

2002: River Thieves by Michael Crummey

2003: Downhill Chance by Donna Morrissey

2004: The Town that Forgot How to Breathe by Kenneth J. Harvey

2005: The Nine Planets by Edward Riche

2006: Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrissey

2007: Scotch River by Linda Little

2008: Ragged Islands by Don Hannah

2009: Quintet by Douglas Arthur Brown

2010: Under The Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell

2011: Annabel by Kathleen Winter

2012: Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul by David Adams Richards

2013: Whirl Away by Russell Wangersky

2014: The Hundred Hearts by William Kowalski

2015: Just Beneath My Skin by Darren Greer

2016: Entopic by R.W. Gray

2017: The Fortunate Brother by Donna Morrissey

2018: Blood Fable by Oisin Curran

2019: Something for Everyone by Lisa Moore

2020: The Innocents by Michael Crummey

2021: Speechless by Anne Simpson

2022:

Further reading about Thomas Raddall, his son, and their literary legacy:

The Chronicle Herald: Opinion: Thomas Raddall’s legacy to his region & his craft: “I am proud that someone feels Atlantic Canadian authors are deserving. And is willing to help us promote our writing that, in turn, helps us promote our unique way of life here in Atlantic Canada.”

Atlantic Books Today: Raddall’s Legacy: “The award itself, and its substantial cash (and therefore time) value, is directly attributable to the Raddall family, including Thomas Raddall himself. It started when he refused to accept payment for his public lending rights (PLR) – the amount paid to all authors with books widely available in public libraries. “I have money and other people can use it,” Raddall told his son, Thomas II.”

Quotes from Thomas Raddall

“In the frantic world of today, with everything in a ceaseless uproar like a forest in a hurricane, it’s a good thing to see that your roots go a long way down.”

“Don’t brood on what’s past, but never forget it either.”

“Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope.“