As the former editor of Canadian Notes and Queries, the world's pre-eminent magazine of Canadian literary and cultural criticism, Alex Good has established himself as an expert on the Canadian novel. In this book, which weaves together two decades of writing on the subject, he presents the first comprehensive look at how the form has developed since the early 1900s. Written for the common reader, Good's critical focus shifts effortlessly between specific examples and general trends. How has Canadian "prize culture" influenced the novel over the past several decades? Has government funding impacted the form? What influences have specific authors, like Atwood, Ondaatje, and Richler had on our concept of what a Canadian novel is-or should be? By providing a contrary yet thoughtful position to that taken by our nation's most amplified literary tastemakers, Good provides crucial commentary on the history and future of Canadian literature.