The celebrated poet Lorna Crozier talks to Joseph Planta about her new book, Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir (Greystone, 2009), which discusses her growing up in Saskatchewan, poverty, poetry, alcoholism, her partner Patrick Lane, and more.

Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir by Lorna Crozier. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Small Beneath the Sky

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

One of Canada’s most celebrated poets, Lorna Crozier, joins me now. She has recently published a new book, Small Beneath the Sky: A Prairie Memoir. It’s been universally well-reviewed already. It is described as a tender and unsparing portrait of a family and a place. Crozier’s setting is her hometown of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. She discusses the town, its main street, and more. She also writes about the poverty and alcoholism that’s filled her growing up, what with her father’s drinking. Lorna Crozier has written some 15 books of poetry, and has edited two previous non-fiction anthologies, including Addicted: Notes from the Belly of the Beasts, which she co-edited with her partner Patrick Lane, a previous guest on the program. She is the chair of the writing department at the University of Victoria. She was recently named a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. The book, Small Beneath the Sky is published by Greystone. From her home in Saanich, please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lorna Crozier; Good morning, Ms. Crozier.

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