The Griffin Poetry Prize Announces the 2009 Canadian and International Shortlist

TORONTO – April 7, 2009 – Scott Griffin, founder of The Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry and David Young, trustee, today announced the Canadian and International shortlist for this year’s prize. The C$100,000 Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the most lucrative poetry prizes in the world, exemplifying the international spirit of the form. The prize is awarded annually for the two best books of poetry, including translations, published in English in the previous year.

Judges Saskia Hamilton, Dennis O'Driscoll and Michael Redhill each read 485 books of poetry, including 33 translations, received from 32 countries around the globe. The seven finalists – three Canadian and four International – will be invited to read in Toronto at the MacMillan Theatre on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. The winners, who each receive C$50,000, will be announced on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at the ninth annual Griffin Poetry Prize Awards Evening.

The Griffin Poetry Prize was launched on September 6, 2000, by trustees Margaret Atwood, Carolyn Forché, Scott Griffin, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. Each year, the trustees (with the exception of Scott Griffin) are responsible for selecting the judges for the prize.

The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry was created to serve and encourage poetry written in English anywhere in the world. Eligible collections of poetry, including translations, must be submitted by publishers no later than December 31 in the calendar year of their publication.

Tickets for the Readings to be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the MacMillan Theatre are available at www.griffinpoetryprize.com/tickets or by calling (905) 618-0420.

Note: The publishers mentioned in our release are those who submitted the books.

Note to booksellers: Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist posters and stickers are supplied free of charge by The Griffin Trust. Click here to view these items and access our order form. Winner stickers will be available after June 3rd, 2009.

Please direct other inquiries as follows:

Shortlisted Publishers' Web sites:

Coach House Books
www.chbooks.com

Copper Canyon Press
www.coppercanyonpress.org

Faber and Faber
www.faber.co.uk

Gallery Press
www.gallerypress.com

House of Anansi Press
www.anansi.ca

University of Pittsburgh Press
www.upress.pitt.edu