Writers Off the Page: From the TIFA Archives
Episodes
Martha Gellhorn: The Face of War
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this electrifying episode of Writers Off the Page: From the TIFA Archives, travel back to October 1992 to hear Martha Gellhorn — novelist, journa...
Linda Gray Sexton: Anne Sexton's 45 Mercy Street
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Please take care of yourself and seek support if needed....
Seamus Heaney: Death of a Naturalist
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this captivating episode of Writers Off the Page: From the TIFA Archives, step back in time to 1990 Toronto and immerse yourself in the lyrical wor...
Carlos Fuentes: From Illusion to Reality
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This conversation between Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes and Bob Rae, recorded in 2000, offers a time capsule of North American relations at a pivotal ...
Ursula Le Guin: Don't Push the River
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In October of 2000, Ursula K. Le Guin sat down with CBC's Marilyn Powell to discuss her novel, The Telling. Listening to their conversation now feels ...
Saul Bellow: Wires not Roots
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
EPISODE SUMMARYListening to this 1988 conversation between Nobel-prize winning American writer, Saul Bellow, and former Canadian Governor General, Adr...
Jamaica Kincaid: Brothers, Mothers and Antigua
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The best kinds of conversations should meander and detour, trip over delicate areas, double down when a point must be emphatically asserted. After all...
Mario Vargas Llosa: Literature Can Help People Live
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 1988, when Mario Vargas Llosa sat down on a Toronto stage with Adrienne Clarkson, he hadn't yet won his Nobel Prize for Literature (that came in 20...
Hilary Mantel: Experiments in Love
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This audio recording of Hilary Mantel in conversation with Rosemary Sullivan was recorded on stage at Harbourfront Reading Series in 1997. It is used ...
Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Umberto EcoThe Name of the RoseFoucault’s PendulumThe Prague CemeteryOn the Shoulders of Giants Other Related Books or MaterialsSigns and ...
Austin Clarke: Sometimes, A Motherless Child
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Austin ClarkeIn This CityThey Never Told Me and Other StoriesThe Polished Hoe Other Related Books or MaterialsOdetta’s 1960 recording of “...
Doris Lessing: Homage to the New Man
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Doris LessingThe Golden NotebookStories by Doris LessingThe Grandmothers: Four Short NovelsThe Grass is Singing (ebook) Other Related Books ...
Eduardo Galeano: Memory of Fire
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Eduardo GaleanoMemory of Fire Volume One: GenesisMemory of Fire Volume Two: Faces and MasksMemory of Fire Volume Three: Century of the WindCh...
Angela Carter: Nights at the Circus
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Angela CarterNights at the CircusThe Bloody Chamber, Wise Children, FireworksWriters Talk: Angela Carter with Lisa Appignanesi (evideo)The In...
Luisa Valenzuela: Love of Animals
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Luisa ValenzuelaThe Lizard’s Tail (print book)The Wanderer by Luisa Valenzuela, translated by Marguerite Feitlowitz (link opens a short sto...
Richard Wagamese: A Quality of Light
16 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Richard WagameseA Quality of Light (ebook)One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet (all formats)One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a P...
John Irving: A Prayer for Owen Meany
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by John IrvingA Prayer for Owen MeanyThe World According to Garp (book in various formats)The World According to Gary (1982 film starring Robin ...
Bruce Chatwin: The Songlines
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Note: given the current temporary closure of TPL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made our best efforts to offer suggestions below for materials ...
Lee Maracle: The Raven
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Note: given the current temporary closure of TPL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made our best efforts to offer suggestions below for materials ...
Austin Clarke: Doing Right
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Note: given the current temporary closure of TPL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made our best efforts to offer suggestions below for materials ...
Gloria Naylor: Mama Day
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Note: Given the current temporary closure of TPL due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made our best efforts to offer suggestions below for materials ...
Nikki Giovanni: Road Tripping
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Nikki GiovanniThe Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1969 - 1998The Sun Is So Quiet: PoemsRosa (a short video)Rosa (a kids biography)I Am ...
Grace Paley Saves the World
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Grace PaleyLater the Same DayJust As I ThoughtA Grace Paley ReaderThe Little Disturbances of Man Other Related Books or MaterialsGrace Paley...
Nikki Giovanni: Soothing the Longings
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Nikki GiovanniA Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and LaughterThe Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni, 1969-1998Lincoln and Douglass: an Amer...
A Life of Activism: Larry Kramer in Conversation with June Callwood
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Larry KramerThe American People: Volume 1: The Search for My HeartThe American People: Volume 2: The Brutality of Fact: a NovelThe Normal Hea...
Gwendolyn Brooks: The World Might Continue
02 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Gwendolyn BrooksThe Essential Gwendolyn BrooksSelected PoemsGwendolyn Brooks (Poetry Foundation article) Other Related Books or MaterialsGwe...
“Traveling” with Grace Paley
19 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Grace PaleyThe Collected StoriesA Grace Paley ReaderJust As I ThoughtFidelity: Poems Other Related Books or MaterialsThe Art and Activism of...
Gwendolyn Brooks: Poems That (Don't) Cough Lightly
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Gwendolyn BrooksThe Essential Gwendolyn BrooksSelected PoemsA Street in BronzevilleBronzeville Boys and Girls (children’s picture book by B...
Jim Harrison: “Don’t Make Me Dirty, Darling”
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Jim HarrisonThe Road HomeLegends of the FallThe Essential PoemsThe River Swimmer: novellas Other Related Books or Materials“Alfresco” a ...
Jim Harrison: “You’ve Made Quite a Living From Your Fibs”
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Jim HarrisonThe Road HomeLegends of the FallDalvaTrue North Works about Jim HarrisonOff to the Side: a MemoirJim Harrison, the Art of Fictio...
Susan Sontag: "Make Something Better"
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Works by Susan SontagFrom AmericaThe Volcano LoverTuesday, and After: New Yorker Writers Respond to 9/11 (New Yorker article from Sep 2001)Regarding t...
Susan Sontag: “The Arts Give Humans Dignity”
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Writers Off the Page is a biweekly podcast series produced by Toronto Public Library that presents the best of 40 years from the archives of the Toron...
Susan Sontag: “The Little Illness Book”
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Books by Susan SontagThe BenefactorIllness as Metaphor/AIDS and Its MetaphorsFrom America Books about Susan SontagSontag: Her Life and Work by Benjam...
Susan Sontag: “This God-Damned Celebrity Culture”
11 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Books by Susan Sontag:Illness as Metaphor/AIDS and Its MetaphorsIn America: A NovelFascinating Fascism: Susan Sontag on Leni Riefenstahl (The New York...