House of Anansi Press

House of Anansi Press is a Canadian literary publishing house based in Toronto. Writers Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey founded the company in 1967 as an independent press with a strong emphasis on developing new Canadian voices. Its early identity was closely connected to the expansion of modern Canadian literature: rather than concentrating primarily on established commercial authors, Anansi sought out emerging and experimental writers in literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. The press began on a very small scale. According to accounts of its early history, it initially had only one full-time employee, the writer George Fetherling. Despite that limited infrastructure, Anansi quickly became associated with important Canadian writers and influential literary works. Its author list has included Margaret Atwood, Matt Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Marian Engel, Erín Moure, Paulette Jiles, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. This list positioned the press as an important institution in the development and international recognition of Canadian writing. Anansi’s publishing program has extended beyond English-language Canadian originals. The company has also published translations of works by major French-language writers, including Roch Carrier, Anne Hébert, Lise Bissonnette, and Marie-Claire Blais. This translation activity reflects the press’s role in connecting Canada’s two principal literary traditions and bringing significant francophone writing to wider English-language readerships. A notable part of the House of Anansi list is its publication of transcripts from the Massey Lectures, a prominent Canadian lecture series. These books bring public intellectual, cultural, political, and scholarly discussions to readers in a durable book format and have become an identifiable component of the publisher’s nonfiction and ideas program. Margaret Atwood’s 1972 book Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature is among the works associated with the press’s influential Canadian literary publishing history. The company’s ownership changed during its development. In 1989, House of Anansi Press was purchased by General Publishing, the parent company of Stoddart Publishing. In June 2002, it was acquired by Scott Griffin, who founded the Griffin Poetry Prize. These transactions changed the corporate ownership of the press while preserving its identity as a literary publisher. Public reference material describes Anansi as continuing to operate from Toronto and to focus on literary fiction, poetry, nonfiction, translations, and culturally significant works. Its long-term importance rests less on mass-market scale than on editorial cultivation: it has served as a platform for Canadian authors, international literary exchange, and books that have shaped discussion of Canadian culture and literature.

House of Anansi Press was established in 1967 by Canadian writers Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey. The founders created the company during a period when Canadian literature was developing a stronger institutional and commercial presence, and they conceived Anansi as a press capable of finding and nurturing new Canadian writers. Its editorial interests centered on literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction rather than on a narrowly commercial publishing list. The press’s beginnings were modest. It operated initially with only one full-time employee, the writer George Fetherling. From that small base, Anansi developed a reputation for publishing writers who became important figures in Canadian and international literature. Its early and subsequent list included Margaret Atwood, Matt Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Marian Engel, Erín Moure, Paulette Jiles, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. The diversity of this list—spanning fiction, poetry, criticism, philosophy, and cultural writing—helped establish the press as a significant literary institution. Anansi also played a role in publishing literature across Canada’s linguistic traditions. It issued English translations of works by French-language authors such as Roch Carrier, Anne Hébert, Lise Bissonnette, and Marie-Claire Blais. This activity broadened access to francophone Canadian writing and connected the publisher’s English-language readership with major works from Quebec and other French-language literary communities. The company became particularly associated with the Massey Lectures, publishing book-length versions or transcripts of lectures from the Canadian series. The lectures address public questions in areas such as culture, politics, society, and intellectual life. Their publication gave Anansi a durable nonfiction and public-ideas role alongside its literary list. One recognized example from the press’s bibliography is Margaret Atwood’s 1972 Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature. The book’s subject and influence exemplify Anansi’s interest in Canadian literary culture and critical discussion, while the broader catalogue demonstrates the press’s commitment to both new writers and established intellectual voices. Ownership changed in 1989, when General Publishing acquired House of Anansi Press. General Publishing was the parent company of Stoddart Publishing. The press later changed hands again in June 2002, when Scott Griffin acquired it. Griffin was also the founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize, an association consistent with Anansi’s longstanding interest in poetry and literary culture. House of Anansi Press is based in Toronto and remains identified with Canadian literary publishing. Its historical significance comes from the combination of editorial discovery, support for poetry and literary fiction, translation of French-language works, publication of major nonfiction, and dissemination of the Massey Lectures. Rather than being defined by one product category or a single bestselling franchise, the press has functioned as a cultural publisher whose catalogue helped give Canadian writing a stronger and more visible institutional platform.

• 2002

  Acquisition by Scott Griffin

  [1]House of Anansi Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Scott Griffin acquires House of Anansi Press in June 2002.

• 1989

  Acquisition by General Publishing

  [1]House of Anansi Pressen.wikipedia.org

  General Publishing, the parent company of Stoddart Publishing, acquires House of Anansi Press.

• 1972

  Publication of Survival

  [1]House of Anansi Pressen.wikipedia.org

  The press publishes Margaret Atwood's Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature, a notable work in its Canadian literary bibliography.

• 1967

  House of Anansi Press is founded

  [1]House of Anansi Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Dennis Lee and Dave Godfrey establish House of Anansi Press in Canada as a literary publisher focused on developing Canadian writers.

An independent-minded Canadian literary publisher focused on discovering and developing writers, supporting poetry and literary fiction, publishing serious nonfiction, and connecting English- and French-language Canadian literature.

• Book publishing · 1967

  Literary fiction

  House of Anansi Press has historically specialized in literary fiction, particularly work by Canadian writers. Its fiction program has included authors who later achieved broad national and international recognition, reflecting the press's role in identifying and developing literary talent rather than relying only on already established commercial franchises.

• Book publishing · 1967

  Poetry

  Poetry is a central part of Anansi's literary identity. The press has published Canadian poets and maintained a connection to literary institutions and audiences interested in contemporary poetry. Its later ownership by Scott Griffin, founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize, also connects the company with Canada's wider poetry culture.

• Book publishing · 1967

  Literary and cultural nonfiction

  The nonfiction list includes literary criticism, cultural commentary, intellectual writing, and other serious nonfiction. Margaret Atwood's Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature is an example of the press's contribution to discussion about Canadian literary identity and history.

• Lecture and ideas publishing

  Massey Lectures transcripts

  Anansi publishes book editions of transcripts from many Massey Lectures, converting a prominent Canadian public lecture series into lasting print works. These publications extend the press beyond literary belles-lettres into public intellectual, social, political, and cultural nonfiction.

• Translation publishing

  Translated French-language literature

  The press has published English translations of works by French-language Canadian authors, including Roch Carrier, Anne Hébert, Lise Bissonnette, and Marie-Claire Blais. This program supports literary exchange between Canada's francophone and anglophone readerships.

• 2002

  Acquisition by Scott GriffinM&A

  Background

  House of Anansi Press changed ownership again in June 2002 after its period under General Publishing.

  Action taken

  Scott Griffin acquired the press.

  Aftermath

  The publisher remained associated with literary books, poetry, nonfiction, translations, and Massey Lectures publications.

  Source

• 1989

  Transfer of ownership to General PublishingM&A

  Background

  After more than two decades as an independent Canadian literary press, House of Anansi Press became part of General Publishing, the parent company of Stoddart Publishing.

  Action taken

  General Publishing acquired House of Anansi Press.

  Aftermath

  The transaction marked a change in corporate ownership while Anansi continued to be identified as a Canadian literary publisher.

  Source

1. 1House of Anansi Pressen.wikipedia.org
2. 2House of Anansi Press official websitehouseofanansi.com
3. 3House of Anansi Press fonds, Library and Archives Canadalibrary-archives.canada.ca