So this is a relatively new obsession for me. Actually, I think it’s the latest. As if I needed another.

It erupted nearly twenty years ago, when I read Phyllis Brett Young’s The Torontonians, which I read in a pretty reissue from McGill-Queen’s University Press.

I was suddenly struck by the fact that I just haven’t been aware of so many classic Canadian works (beyond the canon, which one might say is represented in a list like this one).

I pulled an old copy of Roger Lemelin’s The Town Below off my shelf (it’s No. 26 in the NCL) and I made — you probably know what I’m going to say — a spreadsheet. Of course I did.

And then, thanks to New Canadian Library Collecting (see I.I.’s comments below waves), I was able to update the not-so-fancy-at-all spreadsheet (check I.I.’s page for a bee-yoo-tee-full spread) to include more titles.

Grove, Philip Frederick Over Prairie Trails
Callaghan, Morley ✔Such Is My Beloved
Leacock, Stephen Literary Lapses
Ross, Sinclair ✔As For Me and My House
Roy, Gabrielle ✔The Tin Flute
Haliburton, Thomas Chandler The Clockmaker
Roberts, Charles G.D. The Last Barrier and Other Stories
MacLennan, Hugh Barometer Rising
Raddall, Thomas H. At the Tide’s Turn and Other Stories
Leacock, Stephen Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich
Drummond, William Henry Habitant Poems
Ringuet Thirty Acres
Graham, Gwethalyn Earth and High Heaven
Connor, Ralph The Man from Glengarry
Leacock, Stephen ✔Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town
McCulloch, Thomas The Stepsure Letters
Callaghan, Morley More Joy in Heaven
Ostenso, Martha ✔Wild Geese
Grove, Philip Frederick The Master of the Mill
Duncan, Sara Jeannette The Imperialist
de la Roche, Mazo Delight
Klein, A.M. The Second Scroll
Buckler, Ernest ✔The Mountain and the Valley
Kreisel, Henry The Rich Man
Roy, Gabrielle Where Nests the Water Hen
Lemelin, Roger The Town Below
Brooke, Frances ✔The History of Emily Montague
Leacock, Stephen My Discovery of England
Wilson, Ethel Swamp Angel
MacLennan, Hugh Each Man’s Son
Moodie, Susanna Roughing It In the Bush
Knister, Raymond White Narcissus
Callaghan, Morley They Shall Inherit the Earth
Birney, Earle Turvey
Leacock, Stephen Nonsense Novels
Stead, R.J.C. Grain
Bodsworth, Fred ✔Last of the Curlews
Raddall, Thomas H. ✔The Nymph and the Lamp
Moore, Brian Judith Hearne
Roy, Gabrielle The Cashier
Marlyn, John ✔Under the Ribs of Death
Grainger, M. Allerdale Woodsmen of the West
Leacock, Stephen Moonbeams from the Larger Lunacy
Hiebert, Paul Sarah Binks
Richler, Mordecai Son of a Smaller Hero
Jameson, Anna Brownell Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada
Meade, Eward Remember Me
Leacock, Stephen Frenzied Fiction
Grove, Philip Frederick Fruits of the Earth
Grove, Philip Frederick Settlers of the Marsh
Traill, Catharine Parr The Backwoods of Canada
McCourt, Edward Music at the Close
Leacock, Stephen My Remarkable Uncle
Watson, Sheila ✔The Double Hook
Dunlop, William Tiger Dunlop’s Upper Canada
Roy, Gabrielle Street of Riches
Leacock, Stephen Short Circuits
Richardson, John Wacousta
Laurence, Margaret ✔The Stone Angel
Leacock, Stephen Further Foolishness
Davies, Robertson Marchbanks’ Almanack
Ross, Sinclair The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories
Roberts, Theodore Goodridge The Harbor Master
Traill, Catharine Parr The Canadian Settler’s Guide
Kirby, William The Golden Dog
Richler, Mordecai ✔The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Leacock, Stephen Behind the Beyond
De Mille, James A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder
Leacock, Stephen Last Leaves
Laurence, Margaret The Tomorrow-Tamer
Woodcock, George Odysseus Ever Returning
Grey, Francis William The Cure of St. Philippe
Cohen, Leonard The Favourite Game
Leacock, Stephen Winnowed Wisdom
Parker, Gilbert The Seats of the Mighty
Grove, Philip Frederick A Search for America
Kreisel, Henry The Betrayal
Blais Marie-Claire Mad Shadows
Richler, Mordecai The Incomparable Atuk
Moore, Brian ✔The Luck of Ginger Coffey
Waddington, Miriam John Sutherland: Essays, Controversies and Poems
Wiebe, Rudy Henry Peace Shall Destroy Many
Davies, Robertson A Voice from the Attic
Aquin, Hubert ✔Prochain Episode
Raddall, Thomas H. Roger Sudden
Evans, Hubert Mist on the River
Laurence, Margaret ✔The Fire-Dwellers
LePan, Douglas The Deserter
Lephrohon, rosanna Antoinette de Mirecourt
Leclerc, Felix Allegro
Gallant, Mavis ✔The End of the World & Other Stories
Scott, Duncan Campbell In the Village of Viger & Other Stories
Atwood, Margaret ✔The Edible Woman
Grove, Philip Frederick In Search of Myself
Davies, Robertson Feast of Stephen
Laurence, Margaret ✔A Bird in the House
McCourt, Edward The Wooden Sword
Raddall, Thomas H. Pride’s Fancy
Buckler, Ernest Ox Bells and Fireflies
Ludwig, Jack Above Ground
Lowell, Robert Traill Spence New Priest in Conception Bay
Niven, Frederick The Flying Years
Dewdney, Selwyn Wind Without Rain
Blais Marie-Claire Tete Blanche
O’Hagan, Howard ✔Tay John
de Gaspe, Philippe Aubert Canadians of Old (Trans. G.D. Roberts
MacMechan, Archibald Headwaters of Canadian Literature
Wiebe, Rudy Henry The Blue Mountains of China
Roy, Gabrielle The Hidden Mountain
Roberts, Charles G.D. The Heart of the Ancient Wood
Laurence, Margaret ✔Jest of God
Lewis, Wyndham Self Condemned
Langevin, Andre Dust Over the City
Grove, Philip Frederick Our Daily Bread
Woodcock, George, ed. The Canadian Novel in the 20th Century
Salverson, Laura Goodman The Viking Heart
Birney, Earle Down the Long Table
Connor, Ralph Glengarry School Days
Lemelin, Roger ✔The Plouffe Family
Roy, Gabrielle ✔Windflower
Cohen, Matt The Disinherited
Wiebe, Rudy Henry ✔The Temptations of Big Bear
Fraser, Sylvia ✔Pandora
Janes, Percy House of Hate
Blondl, Patricia A Candle to Light the Sun
Laurence, Margaret This Side Jordan
Roberts, Theodore Goodridge The Red Feathers
Moore, Brian I Am Mary Dunne
Roy, Gabrielle ✔The Road Past Altamont
Godbout, Jacques Knife on the Table
Thomas, Clara ✔The Manawaka World of Margaret Laurence
Grove, Philip Frederick Consider Her Ways
Raddall, Thomas H. His Majesty’s Yankees
Gerin-Lajoie, Antoine Jean Rivard
Galt, John Bogel Corbet
Richler, Mordecai A Choice of Enemies
Brown, E.K. Responses and Evaluations: Essays on Canada
MacPhail, Sir Andrew The Master’s Wife
Buckler, Ernest The Cruelest Month
Bodsworth, Fred The Atonement of Ashley Morden
Seton, Ernest Thompson ✔Wild Animals I Have Known
Harlow, Robert Scann
Smith, A.J.M. On Poetry and Poets
Wiseman, Adele ✔Crackpot
Ross, Sinclair Sawbones Memorial
Laurence, Margaret ✔The Diviners
Creighton, Luella High Bright Buggy Wheels
Bacque, James Big Lonely
Cohen, Matt Wooden Hunters
Child, Philip God’s Sparrows
Guèvremont, Germaine The Outlander
Richler, Mordecai The Great Comic Book Heroes and Other Essays
Cohen, Leonard ✔Beautiful Losers
Moore, Brian The Emperor of Ice-Cream
Roy, Gabrielle Garden in the Wind
Wiebe, Rudy Henry The Scorched Wood People
MacLeod, Alistair The Lost Salt Gift of Blood
Smith, Ray Lord Nelson Tavern
Faessler, Shirley Everything in the Window
Hood, Hugh The Camera Always Lies
Joudry, Patricia The Selena Tree
Russell, Franklin Watchers at the Pond
Thomas, Audrey Two in the Bush and Other Stories
Woods, Grahame Bloody Harvest
Kattan, Naim The Neighbour and Other Stories
Blais Marie-Claire The Manuscripts of Pauline Archange
McFee, Oonah Sandbars
Metcalf, John Selected Stories
Wiebe, Rudy Henry The Angel of the Tar Sands
Wilson, Ethel ✔The Innocent Traveller
Moore, Brian The Sweet Second Summer of Kitty Malone
Engel, Marian ✔Bear
Houston, James Spirit Wrestler
Richards, David Adams The Coming of Winter
Gibson, Graeme Five Legs and Communion
Leacock, Stephen Laugh with Leacock
Beresford-Howe Constance ✔The Book of Eve
Bruce, Charles The Channel Shore
Clarke, Austin C. Amongst Thistles and Thorns
Cohen, Matt Flowers of Darkness
Godfrey, Dave The New Ancestors
van Herk, Aritha ✔Judith
Blais Marie-Claire St. Lawrence Blues
Richards, David Adams Blood Ties
Richler, Mordecai St. Urbain’s Horseman
Sears, Dennis T. Patrick The Lark in the Clear Air
Richards, David Adams Lives of Short Duration
Beresford-Howe Constance ✔A Population of One
Engel, Marian ✔Lunatic Villas
Richler, Mordecai ✔Cocksure
Bruce, Charles The Township of Time
Hall, Chipman Bayo
Bodsworth, Fred The Sparrow’s Fall
Hospital, Janette Turner The Tiger in the Tiger Pit
Moore, Brian The Mangan Inheritance
van Herk, Aritha ✔The Tent Peg
Watson, Sheila A Father’s Kingdom
Mistry, Rohinton ✔A Fine Balance
Blais Marie-Claire A Season in the Life of Emmanuel
Gallant, Mavis Across the Bridge
Callaghan, Morley Ancient Lineage and Other Stories
Montgomery, L.M. ✔Anne of Green Gables
Marshall, Joyce Any Time at All and Other Stories
MacLeod, Alistair As Birds Bring Forth the Sun and Other Stories
Watson, Sheila Deep Hollow Creek
Bissoondath, Neil Digging up the Mountains
Montgomery, L.M. Emily Climbs
Montgomery, L.M. Emily of New Moon
Montgomery, L.M. Emily’s Quest
McDougall, Colin Execution
Richards, David Adams ✔Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace
Richards, David Adams For Those That Hunt the Wounded Down
Atwood, Margaret Good Bones
Wilson, Ethel Hetty Dorval
Richler, Mordecai Joshua Then and Now
Moodie, Susanna Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush
Hood, Hugh Light Shining Out of Darkness and Other Stories
Wilson, Ethel Love and Salt Water
Vanderhaeghe, Guy Man Descending
Wilson, Ethel Mrs. Golightly and Other Stories
Atwood, Margaret ✔Murder in the Dark
Leacock, Stephen My Financial Career and Other Stories
Richards, David Adams ✔Nights Below Station Street
Munro, Alice ✔No Love Lost
Gibson, Graeme Perpetual Motion
Ondaatje, Michael ✔Running in the Family
Richler, Mordecai Solomon Gursky was Here
Hodgins, Jack Spit Delaney’s Island
Mistry, Rohinton ✔Such a Long Journey
Atwood, Margaret ✔Surfacing
Mistry, Rohinton ✔Tales from Firozsha Baag
Ferron, Jacques Tales from the Uncertain Country and Other Stories
Richler, Mordecai The Acrobats
Steffler, John ✔The Afterlife of George Steffler
Beauchemin, Yves The Alley Cat
Wilson, Ethel ✔The Equations of Love
Hodgins, Jack The Invention of the World
Elliott, George The Kissing Man
Kroetsch, Robert The Man from the Creeks
Gallant, Mavis The Moslem Wife and Other Stories
Laurence, Margaret The Prophet’s Camel Bell
Hodgins, Jack The Resurrection of Joseph Bourne
Wiseman, Adele The Sacrifice
Richler, Mordecai The Street
Urquhart, Jane ✔The Whirlpool
MacLennan, Hugh ✔Two Solitudes
Mitchell, W.O. ✔Who Has Seen the Wind
Ross, Malcolm Ed. Poets of the Confederation
Smith, A.J.M. Ed. Masks of Fiction
Smith, A.J.M. Ed. Masks of Poetry
Wilson, Milton Ed. Poetry of Mid-Century
Wilson, Milton Ed. Poets Between the Wars
Birney, Earle The Poems of Earle Birney
Mandel, Eli Ed. Poets of Contemporary Canada
Sinclair, David Ed. Nineteenth-Century Narrative Poems
Carmen, Bliss The Poems of Bliss Carmen
Purdy, Al ✔Poems of Al Purdy
Birney, Earle The Damnation of Vancouver
Layton, Irving ✔The Selected Poems of Irving Layton
Various ✔Canadian Poetry: From the Beginnings through the First World War
Duffy, Dennis Marshall McLuhan
Wilson, Milton E.J. Pratt
Thomas, Clara ✔Margaret Laurence
Sutherland, Ronald Frederick Phillip Grove
Ondaatje, Michael Leonard Cohen
Woodcock, George Mordecai Richler
Davies, Robertson Stephen Leacock
Lucas, Alec Hugh MacLennan
Robillard, Richard Earle Birney
Bates, Ronald Northrop Frye
New, William H. Malcolm Lowry
Woodman, Ross G. James Reaney
Hughes, Peter George Woodcock
Lucas, Alec Farley Mowat
Young, Alan R. Ernest Buckler
Morley, Patricia Morley Callaghan
Grant, Judith Skelton Robertson Davies