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Marilyn Bowering

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Marilyn Bowering
Born (1949-04-13) April 13, 1949 (age 75)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
OccupationPoet, novelist and playwright
NationalityCanadian
Alma materUniversity of Victoria

Marilyn Bowering (born April 13, 1949) is a Canadian poet,[1] novelist and playwright. As well as several adventure novels and many books of poetry, Bowering has also scripted a number of dramatic works and a libretto.

Personal life

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Bowering was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. She studied English at the University of Victoria, and graduated with a Master of Arts degree.[2]

Bowering presently lives in Sooke, British Columbia; she is married and has one daughter.[3]

Career

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In 1987, Bowering wrote a book of poetic monologues, titled Anyone Can See I Love You, which was later adapted as a radio drama.[4] In 1998 she wrote an adventure story, Visible Worlds, which received positive reviews.[5][6]

In 2012, her book of poetry, Soul Mouth, was published.[7]

In 2013 Bowering worked with composer Gavin Bryars to create the libretto for a chamber opera, Marilyn Forever, about Marilyn Monroe.[8][9]

Awards and honours

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  • National Magazine Award for Poetry, Gold 1978
  • Nominated for the 1984 Governor General's Award (The Sunday Before Winter)
  • National Magazine Award for Poetry, Silver 1989
  • Long Poem Prize, The Malahat Review, 1994
  • Pat Lowther Award for poetry, 1997 (Autobiography)
  • Nominated for the 1997 Governor General's Award (Autobiography)
  • Nominated for the 1997 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize (Autobiography)
  • Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, 1998 (Visible Worlds)
  • Short-listed for the Orange Prize, 1999 (Visible Worlds)
  • Short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, 2004 (The Alchemy of Happiness)
  • Short-listed for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize 2007 (What It Takes to Be Human)

Publications

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Novels

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  • The Visitors Have All Returned - 1979
  • To All Appearances a Lady - 1989
  • Visible Worlds - 1997
  • Cat's Pilgrimage - 2004
  • What It Takes to Be Human - 2007

Poetry

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  • The Liberation of Newfoundland - 1973
  • One Who Became Lost - 1976
  • The Killing Room - 1977
  • The Book of Glass- 1978
  • Sleeping With Lambs - 1980
  • Giving Back Diamonds - 1982
  • The Sunday Before Winter - 1984
  • Grandfather was a Soldier - 1987
  • Anyone Can See I Love You - 1987
  • Calling All the World - 1989
  • Love As It Is - 1993
  • Autobiography - 1996
  • Human Bodies: Collected Poems 1987-1999 - 1999
  • The Alchemy of Happiness - 2003
  • Green - 2007
  • Soul Mouth - 2012
  • Threshold - 2015

Other

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  • Many Voices, An anthology of contemporary Canadian Indian Poetry, co-edited with D. Day. - 1977
  • In Fine Form: The Canadian Book of Form Poetry, edited by Kate Braid and Sandy Shreve - 2005

Drama

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  • Anyone Can See I Love You - 1988
  • Hajimari-No-Hajimari, four myths of the Pacific Rim - 1986
  • Temple of the Stars - 1996

Radio

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  • Grandfather was a Soldier - 1983
  • Anyone Can See I Love You - 1986
  • Laika and Folchakov, a Journey in Time and Space - 1987
  • A Cold Departure, the Liaison of George Sand and Frederic Chopin -1989

References

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  1. ^ Reviewing Journal of Canadian Materials for Young People. Vol. 12. Canadian Library Association; 1984. p. 252.
  2. ^ Marilyn Bowering's entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia
  3. ^ "Thread of melancholy runs through Marilyn Monroe opera". Kevin Bazzana / Times Colonist, September 15, 2013
  4. ^ "'Marilyn Forever' opera reveals composer Gavin Bryars' collaborative spirit". Mike Boehm Los Angeles Times, Mar 13, 2015
  5. ^ Nooy, Juliana De (2005-06-21). Twins in Contemporary Literature and Culture: Look Twice. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-28686-3.
  6. ^ Book Review Digest. Vol. 95. H. W. Wilson Company. 1999. p. 186.
  7. ^ "Marilyn Bowering, Soul Mouth". Malahat Review, Poetry Review by J. A. Weingarten
  8. ^ "'Marilyn Forever' librettist Marilyn Bowering talks about the screen siren's romantic idealism.". Hollywood Reporter, 3/20/2015 by Jordan Riefe
  9. ^ "Thread of melancholy runs through Marilyn Monroe opera". Kevin Bazzana / Times Colonist, September 15, 2013
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