Anne Dondertman
Full Name
Anne Dondertman
Bio
Anne Dondertman is the Assistant Director of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, at the University of Toronto, with an interest in Canadian literature, and Victoriana. She is currently President of the Bibliographical Society of Canada.
Affiliation
University of Toronto
Country
Canada
Personal Statement About Topic
The Toronto Small Press Book Fair
The literary landmarks and highpoints of any age, as identified by contemporaries and as subsequently fixed in the canon, are valued and preserved by individuals and institutions alike. However these few items are the tip of the iceberg in terms of the overall literary production in any given era. The identification and preservation of the ouput of small independent presses during a particular time and place, much of which will inevitably be lost over time, rounds out the picture of the literary scene by making us aware of the wider context and the incredible depth and breadth of the literary activity taking place. The small press is not only to be valued as a mechanism for nurturing the few literary stars which emerge from that environment, but as a rich area of interest in its own right.
The literary landmarks and highpoints of any age, as identified by contemporaries and as subsequently fixed in the canon, are valued and preserved by individuals and institutions alike. However these few items are the tip of the iceberg in terms of the overall literary production in any given era. The identification and preservation of the ouput of small independent presses during a particular time and place, much of which will inevitably be lost over time, rounds out the picture of the literary scene by making us aware of the wider context and the incredible depth and breadth of the literary activity taking place. The small press is not only to be valued as a mechanism for nurturing the few literary stars which emerge from that environment, but as a rich area of interest in its own right.