The 1944 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit were the ninth rendition of the
Governor General's Awards
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of annual awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing distinction in numerous academic, artistic, and social fields.
The first award was conceived and inaugurated in 1937 by the ...
, Canada's annual national awards program which then comprised literary awards alone. The awards recognized Canadian writers for new English-language works published in Canada during 1944 and were presented in 1945. There were no cash prizes.
As every year from 1942 to 1948, there two awards for non-fiction, and four awards in the three established categories, which recognized English-language works only.
Winners
* Fiction:
Gwethalyn Graham
Gwethalyn Graham (January 18, 1913 – November 25, 1965) was a Canadian writer and activist, whose 1944 novel ''Earth and High Heaven'' was the first Canadian book to reach number one on the New York Times Best Seller list."Gwethalyn Graham: ...
, ''
Earth and High Heaven
''Earth and High Heaven'' was a 1944 novel by Gwethalyn Graham. It was the first Canadian novel to reach number one on ''The New York Times'' bestseller list"Gwethalyn Graham: Two fiction awards won by Montrealer". ''The Globe and Mail'', Novembe ...
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* Poetry or drama:
Dorothy Livesay
Dorothy Kathleen May Livesay, (October 12, 1909 – December 29, 1996) was a Canadian poet who twice won the Governor General's Award in the 1940s, and was "senior woman writer in Canada" during the 1970s and 1980s.Mathews, R.D.. "Dorothy L ...
, ''Day and Night''
* Non-fiction: Dorothy Duncan, ''Partner in Three Worlds''
* Non-fiction:
Governor General's Awards
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of annual awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, recognizing distinction in numerous academic, artistic, and social fields.
The first award was conceived and inaugurated in 1937 by the ...