Edward Openshaw Phillips (November 26, 1931 – May 30, 2020) was a Canadian novelist, who has written both mystery novels and mainstream literary fiction.Diane Peters
"Novelist Edward O. Phillips penned a series featuring gay sleuth Geoffry Chadwick"
''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'', June 19, 2020. He was best known for his mystery novel series featuring gay detective Geoffrey Chadwick."Whodunits set in 'duchy of Westmount' will appeal to tweed-curtain aficionados". '' Victoria Times-Colonist'', August 1, 2004.

Biography

Phillips lived most of his life in Westmount, Quebec. He graduated from Bishop's College School and earned a law degree from the Université de Montréal in 1956, but decided against legal practice. He subsequently graduated from Harvard University with a master's degree in teaching, and later earned a second master's degree in English literature from Boston University. After teaching school for seven years, first in the public English school system and then at Selwyn House School, he pursued a long-time interest in painting. His work was exhibited in five one-man and numerous group shows. His first novel, ''Sunday's Child'', was published in 1981, and was shortlisted for the Books in Canada First Novel Award. Phillips won the

Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel The Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Novel is an annual literary award, presented as part of the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence program to honour books judged as the best crime novel published by a Canadian crime writer in the ...

in 1987 for his novel ''Buried on Sunday'', and was shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 1989 for his novel ''Hope Springs Eternal''."Leacock award 'stuns' winner". ''

Toronto Star The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part ...

'', May 30, 1989. His short story "Matthew and Chauncy" was adapted by

Anne Claire Poirier Anne Claire Poirier O.C. (born 6 June 1932) is a Canadian film producer, director and screenwriter. Biography Poirier was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. She was the only female filmmaker on the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s and ...

into the 1989 film ''

Salut Victor ''Salut Victor'' is a Canadian film, released in 1989. Based on Edward O. Phillips's short story "Matthew and Chauncy", the film was directed by Anne Claire Poirier and written by Poirier and Marthe Blackburn. The film stars Jean-Louis Roux as Phi ...

''."Tales of foibled Westmount; Edward O. Phillips changes genre, but stays close to home". '' Montreal Gazette'', April 25, 1992. He was out as gay. His partner, Kenneth Woodman, predeceased him in 2018.

Works

*''Sunday's Child'' *''Where There's a Will'' *''A Voyage on Sunday'' *''No Early Birds'' *''The Mice Will Play'' *''Buried on Sunday'' *''Sunday Best'' *''Working on Sunday'' *''Hope Springs Eternal'' *''The Landlady's Niece'' *''A Month of Sundays'' *''The Queen's Court''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Edward O. 1931 births 2020 deaths Canadian male novelists People from Westmount, Quebec Université de Montréal alumni Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni Boston University College of Arts and Sciences alumni Anglophone Quebec people Canadian mystery writers 20th-century Canadian novelists 21st-century Canadian novelists Canadian gay writers Canadian LGBT novelists 20th-century Canadian male writers 21st-century Canadian male writers Gay novelists 20th-century Canadian LGBT people 21st-century Canadian LGBT people