The Symmetry of the Tyger

Writer, would-be Catholic priest, editor, librettist, and professor, Eugene Benson surveys ninety years of travel, adventure, and engagement at the very heart of Canadian culture. Born in Ireland, Benson’s early recollections recall a world of political troubles, war, and wavering religious devotion. His adventures working and travelling across the globe are both fascinating and sometimes eyebrow-raising. Benson’s involvement in Canadian cultural affairs took place at a time when this country was becoming an important presence on the world stage. Benson’s memories of many of the key figures that shaped it, including Northrop Frye and Marshall McLuhan, are deeply insightful. His perspective is witty, humanistic, and occasionally cynical.