Toronto Trailblazers explores the influence of seven key women who, despite pervasive gender bias, helped advance a modern literary culture for Canada.Publisher Irene Clarke, scholarly editors Eleanor Harman and Francess Halpenny, trade editors Sybil Hutchinson, Claire Pratt, and Anna Porter, and literary agent Bella Pomer made the most of their vocational prospects, first by securing their respective positions and then by refining their professional methods. Individually, each woman asserted her agency by adapting orthodox ways of working within Canadian publishing. Collectively, their overarching approach emerged as a feminist practice. Through their vision and method these trailblazing women disrupted the dominant masculine paradigm and helped transform publishing practice in Canada.
Ruth Panofsky is a professor in the Department of English at Ryerson University.
AbbreviationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. "Exceptional in building a Canadian company": Irene Clarke2. A "Principal Architect" of the University of Toronto Press: Eleanor Harman3. The "Editorial Conscience" of the University of Toronto Press: Francess Halpenny4. "She knew the business ... and the Canadian literary market": Sybil Hutchinson5. A "tremendous job of editing": Claire Pratt6. Publishing "Maestro" and Cultural Advocate: Anna Porter7. The "Grande Dame" of Literary Agents: Bella PomerConclusion
