Robert Majzels

Photo of Robert Majzels by Claire Huot, 2006.

Robert Majzels (born 1950) is a Canadian novelist, poet, playwright and translator.

Life

Majzels was born in Montreal. In 1986, he graduated with a Master's degree in English Literature from Concordia University in Montreal, where he would later teach creative writing for thirteen years. Between 2000 and 2002, he lived in Beijing, China and studied Chinese. He presently lives in Calgary, Alberta in Canada and teaches at the University of Calgary.

Works

Majzels is strongly influenced by critical and literary theory. His works explore both the limits of language and narrative forms and their ethical repercussions. His novels highlight the artificiality of Western literary language, especially its linearity, archetypal narratives, and the ways in which it works to establish characters as believable personae (characterization). Concurrently, they explore other, neglected forms of literary expression. For example, Apikoros Sleuth experimented with a Talmudic form, noted for its polyphonic, discursive, and digressive qualities.

Awards

• Shortlisted, 2008 Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize and nominated for Governor General's Award for French to English translation with Erin Moure for Notebook of Roses and Civilization, from the French Cahier de roses & de civilisation, by Nicole Brossard (2007).
• Governor General's Award for French to English translation for Just Fine, from the French Pas Pire, by France Daigle (2000).
• Shortlisted, QWF for Best Novel, for City of Forgetting (1998).
• First prize, Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition, for This Night the Kapo (1994).
• First prize, Dorothy Silver Award, Playwrights competition, for This Night the Kapo (1991).

Partial bibliography

Cover of Apikoros Sleuth

• Hellman's Scrapbook (1992), a novel. Cormorant Books ISBN 0-920953-78-6
• City of Forgetting (1997), a novel. Mercury Press ISBN 1-55128-045-0
• Installations (2000), poetry translated with Erin Mouré from the French Installations by Nicole Brossard. Muses' Co. ISBN 1-896239-65-X
• A Fine Passage (2002), a novel, translated from the French Un fin passage by France Daigle. Anansi ISBN 0-88784-681-5
• Museum of Bone and Water (2002), poetry, translated with Erin Mouré from the French Musée de l’os et de l’eau by Nicole Brossard. ISBN 0-88784-686-6
• Apikoros Sleuth (2004), a novel. Mercury Press ISBN 1-55128-105-8 paperback, Moveable Inc. ISBN 0968490824 limited edition.
• Life’s Little Difficulties (2004), a novel, translated frm the French Petites difficultés d'existence by France Daigle. ISBN 0-88784-700-5
• The Humbugs Diet (2007), a novel. Mercury Press ISBN 1-55128-130-9

External links

• Griffin Poetry Prize biography
• Griffin Poetry Prize reading, including video clip
• Profile of Robert Majzels
• Profile at the Writers' Union of Canada

Persondata
Name	Majzels, Robert
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Date of birth	1950
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Date of death
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