Erín Moure (born 1955 in

Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...

, Alberta) Erín Moure is a Canadian poet and translator with 18 books of poetry, a coauthored book of poetry, a volume of essays, a book of articles on translation, a poetics, and two memoirs; she has translated or co-translated 21 books of poetry and two of biopoetics from French, Spanish, Galician, Portuguese, and Ukrainian, by poets such as Nicole Brossard (with Robert Majzels), Andrés Ajens, Chantal Neveu, Rosalía de Castro, Chus Pato, Uxío Novoneyra, Lupe Gómez (with Rebeca Lema Martínez and on her own), Fernando Pessoa, and Yuri Izdryk (with Roman Ivashkiv). Three of her own books have appeared in translation, one each in German, Galician, and French. Her work has received the Governor General’s Award twice, Pat Lowther Memorial Award, A. M. Klein Prize twice, and has been a three-time finalist for the Griffin Prize and three-time finalist in the USA for a Best Translated Book Award (Poetry). Her latest is ''The Elements'' (2019) and ''Theophylline: an a-poretic migration'' will appear in 2023. Her work is rooted in a philosophical mix that accepts mystery, not always immediately accessible, and she has won several prizes, including the

Governor General's Award 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 ...

twice.

Early and personal life

Her mother was born 1924 in what is today western Ukraine, and emigrated to Canada in 1929. Her father, born in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

in 1925 was a great-grandson of the painter George Théodore Berthon. Erín Moure is the oldest of three, having two younger brothers. In 1975, Moure moved to

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

, British Columbia, where she took her second year classes at

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

in philosophy.Contemporary Literary Criticism, Gale Research Inc., an International Thomson publishing company 1995 After only taking one year of classes she left

and got a job at

Via Rail Canada Via Rail Canada Inc. (), operating as Via Rail or Via, is a Canadian Crown corporation that is mandated to operate intercity passenger rail service in Canada. It receives an annual subsidy from Transport Canada to offset the cost of operating ...

where she continued to write poetry. This is where she learned French. She learned Galician in the early 21st century in order to translate the poetry of Chus Pato. She also translates from Portuguese, Spanish and English. She lives in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

, Quebec.

Writing and style

According to an interview conducted in the early 1990s, Moure has four major influences which led her to become a writer, other than the work of other writers or poets: "Landscape of cars, her mother going to work, her mother teaching her to read, and in a small way losing her sense of touch". Many years ago, Melissa Jacques wrote, "Erin Moure's poetry is fragmented, meta-critical and explicitly deconstructive. Folding everyday events and ordinary people into complex and often irresolvable philosophical dilemmas, Moure challenges the standards of accessibility and common sense. Not surprisingly, her work has met with a mixed response. Critics are often troubled by the difficult and therefore alienating nature of the writing; even amongst Moure's advocates, the issues of accessibility and political efficacy are recurrent themes." Moure has been nominated for, and has won, many writing awards for her writing and her translation. These include the Pat Lowther Memorial Award, Governor General's Award for poetry, A.M.Klein Prize for Poetry, Best Translated Book Award (poetry), Nelson Ball Prize. Her most recent poetry book, ''The Elements'', appeared in 2019.

Awards and honours

*1988

Governor General's Award for English-language poetry This is a list of recipients and nominees of the Governor General's Awards award for English-language poetry. The award was created in 1981 when the Governor General's Award for English language poetry or drama was divided.Best Translated Book Award The Best Translated Book Award is an American literary award that recognizes the previous year's best original translation into English, one book of poetry and one of fiction. It was inaugurated in 2008 and is conferred by Three Percent, the onlin ...

, poetry, shortlist for ''White Piano'' by

Nicole Brossard Nicole Brossard (born November 27, 1943) is a leading French-Canadian formalist poet and novelist. Her work is known for exploration of feminist themes and for challenging masculine-oriented language and points of view in French literature. She ...

, from the French * Griffin Poetry Prize biography *2017 Harvard University 2017 WPR Creative fellowship, RESONANCE: A MODERNISM with Erin Moure *2021

Governor General's Award for French to English translation This is a list of recipients of the Governor General's Award for French-to-English translation. Winners and nominees 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s References {{Governor General's Literary Awards * Translation awar ...

- '' This Radiant Life'' ( Chantal Neveu, ''La vie radieuse'')"Inuk author Norma Dunning wins $25K Governor General's fiction prize"
''Coast Reporter'', November 17, 2021.

Works of poetry

* ''Empire, York Street'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 1979 (nominated for a

) * ''The Whisky Vigil'', Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 1981 * ''Wanted Alive'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 1983 * ''Domestic Fuel'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 1985 (winner of the

Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.1988 Governor General's Award for poetry) * ''WSW'', Montreal: Véhicule Press, 1989 (winner of the A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry * ''Sheepish Beauty, Civilian Love'', Montreal: Véhicule Press, 1992 * ''The Green Word: Selected Poems: 1973–1992'', Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1994 * ''Search Procedures'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 1996 (nominated for a

) * ''A Frame of the Book'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 1999 * ''Pillage Laud'', Montreal: Moveable Type Books, 1999 * ''O Cidadán'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2002 (nominated for a

) * ''Little Theatres'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2005 (winner of the A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry, nominated for a

, nominated for the

Pat Lowther Award The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is an annual award presented by the League of Canadian Poets to the year's best book of poetry by a Canadian woman.Griffin Poetry Prize The Griffin Poetry Prize is Canada's most generous poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. Before 2022, the awards went to one Canadian and one international poet who writes in the English language. ...

) * ''O Cadoiro'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2007 * ''Expeditions of a Chimæra'' (collaboration with

Oana Avasilichioaei Oana Avasilichioaei is a Canadian poet and translator. Her poetry work includes ''Expeditions of a Chimæra'' (2009), a collaboration with Erín Moure, and ''We Beasts'' (2012), which won the A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry. As a translator, she is m ...

), Toronto: Book*hug Press, 2009 (shortlisted for the 2011 A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry) * ''O Resplandor'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2010 (shortlisted for the 2011 A. M. Klein Prize for Poetry) * ''The Unmemntioable'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2012 * ''Insecession'' a dual book with

Chus Pato María Xesús Pato Díaz (born 29 August 1955, in Ourense, Galicia), most commonly known as Chus Pato, is a Galician writer. Biography Pato is an important figure in Galician culture: she belongs to literary groups and cultural associations, suc ...

's ''Secession'', Toronto: Book*hug Press, 2014 * ''Kapusta'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2015 *''The Elements'', Toronto: House of Anansi Press, 2019

Translations from other languages

* ''Installations'' – 2000, translation with

Robert Majzels Robert Majzels (born May 12, 1950) is a Canadian novelist, poet, playwright and translator. Life Majzels was born in Montreal, Quebec. In 1986, he graduated with a master's degree in English Literature from Concordia University in Montreal, w ...

from French of

's ''Installations'' * ''Sheep's Vigil by a Fervent Person'' translation from Portuguese of

Fernando Pessoa Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa (; 13 June 1888 – 30 November 1935) was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher, and philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and ...

Alberto Caeiro Fernando António Nogueira Pessoa (; 13 June 1888 – 30 November 1935) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher, and philosopher, described as one of the most significant literary figures of the ...

's ''O Guardador de Rebanhos''- 2001 (shortlisted for the 2002 Canadian

Griffin Poetry Prize The Griffin Poetry Prize is Canada's most generous poetry award. It was founded in 2000 by businessman and philanthropist Scott Griffin. Before 2022, the awards went to one Canadian and one international poet who writes in the English language. ...

) * ''Museum of Bone and Water'' – 2003, translation with

from French of

's ''Musée de l'os et de l'eau'' * ''Notebook of Roses and Civilization'' – 2007, translation with

from French of

's ''Cahier de roses & de civilisation'' (nominated for a

; shortlisted for the 2008 Canadian

) * ''Charenton'' – 2007, translation from Galician of

's ''Charenton'' * ''Quase Flanders, Quase Extremadura'' – 2008, translation from Spanish of excerpts from the poetry of Andrés Ajens * ''m-Talá'' – 2009, translation from Galician of

's ''m-Talá'' * ''Hordes of Writing'' – 2011, translation from Galician of

's ''Hordas de escritura'' * ''Just Like Her'' – 2011, translation from French of

Louise Dupré Louise Dupré (born July 9, 1949) is a Quebec poet and novelist. The daughter of Cécile Paré and Arthur Dupré, she was born in Sherbrooke and was educated at the Université de Sherbrooke and the Université de Montréal, receiving a PhD in li ...

's ''Tout come elle'' * ''White Piano'' – 2013, translation with Robert Majzels from French of

's ''Piano blanc'' * ''Galician Songs'' – 2013, translation from Galician of

Rosalia de Castro Rosalia or Rosalía (with diacritic) may refer to: Persons * Saint Rosalia (1130–1166), the patron saint of Palermo in Italy * Rosalia (given name) * Rosalía (born 1992), Spanish singer Places * 314 Rosalia, an asteroid * Rosalia, Pisidia, a ...

's ''Cantares Gallegos'' * ''Secession'' – 2014, translation from Galician of

's ''Secesión'' * ''Flesh of Leviathan'' – 2016, translation from Galician of

's ''Carne de Leviatán'' * ''New Leaves'' – 2016, translation from Galician of

's ''Follas Novas'' * ''My Dinosaur'' – 2016, translation from French of François Turcot's ''Mon dinosaure'' *''Paraguayan Sea'' – 2017, translated from Portunhol and Guarani to Frenglish and Guarani of Wilson Bueno's ''Mar paraguayo'' *''Camouflage'' – 2019, translated from Galician of Lupe Gómez's ''Camuflaxe'' *''The Uplands: Book of the Courel and other poems'' – 2020, translated from Galician of Uxío Novoneyra's ''Os Eidos'' and other poems *''This Radiant Life'' – 2020, translated from French of Chantal Neveu's ''La vie radieuse'' *''The Face of the Quartzes'' – 2021, translated from Galician of

's ''Un libre favor''

Essays, Letters and Memoirs

* ''Two Women Talking: Correspondence 1985–1987'' – 1994 (with

Bronwen Wallace Bronwen Wallace (26 May 1945 – 25 August 1989) was a Canadian poet and short story writer. Life and career Wallace was born in Kingston, Ontario. She attended Queen's University, Kingston (B.A. 1967, M.A. 1969). In 1970, she moved to Windsor, ...

) * ''My Beloved Wager'' essays – 2009 * ''Sitting Shiva on Minto Avenue, by Toots'', Vancouver: New Star Books, 2017 * ''A Century in the North Peace: Life and Times of Anne and John Callison'', Montreal: Zat-So Productions, 2018

References

External links

* Archives of Erin Mour
(Erin Mouré fonds, R11781)
are held at

Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is th ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moure, Erin 1955 births Living people Canadian women poets Governor General's Award-winning poets Canadian LGBT poets Canadian lesbian writers University of British Columbia alumni Writers from Calgary Writers from Montreal Writers from Vancouver 20th-century Canadian poets 21st-century Canadian poets 20th-century Canadian women writers 21st-century Canadian women writers Governor General's Award-winning translators

Early and personal life

Writing and style

Awards and honours

Works of poetry

Translations from other languages

Essays, Letters and Memoirs

See also

References

External links