My Multi-Ethnic Friends & Other Stories’ is Cyril Dabydeen’s latest volume, which spans a range of narratives set in Canada and other parts of the world reflecting lived experiences. The Guyana-born Canadian writer, who lives in Ottawa, has been publishing for many years; his work has appeared internationally in numerous literary magazines and anthologies.
Here in this new volume, shifting spaces and changing lives form the core of Dabydeen’s stories. Tropical places with verdant greenery are subverted; his sometimes stark images supplant the traditionally exotic.
In Canada’s northern hemisphere, Dabydeen’s immigrant and non-immigrant characters delve into memories – whether Greek, Italian, Russian or West Indian, for them new situations resonate in north-western Ontario, Toronto, or Detroit. They are even active in a mayoralty race heating up in Ottawa. It’s also a Muslim’s faith tested in Vancouver.
Stories such as “Bearing Gifts”, “Believers”, “Look Who’s Coming”, and “In Transit” reflect ironic twists and styles.
Critics have described Dabydeen’s work as: “narratives that often contain the lyrical consolidations of images that are the mark of a poet” (Books in Canada); and, “His stories are seamless between past and present, fantasy and reality…. a significant post- colonial writer” (World Literature Today).
A former poet laureate of Ottawa (1984-87), Dabydeen has published more than 15 books, including eight collections of poetry.
Some of his previous titles include My Brahmin Days, Play a Song Somebody: Selected Stories, Black Jesus and Other Stories, and North of the Equator.
Dabydeen’s last novel, Drums of My Flesh, had been nominated for the prestigious IMPAC/ Dublin Prize and won the top Guyana Prize for fiction in 2007. He was also shortlisted for the City of Ottawa Book’s Prize. His poetry titles include Imaginary Origins: Selected Poems and Unanimous Night. Cyril recently edited Beyond Sangre Grande: Caribbean Writing Today. He has done more than 300 readings from his books.
Dabydeen teaches creative writing at the University of Ottawa. He has twice juried for Canada’s Governor General’s Award.
His varied career also includes extensive travel as a race relations/ diversity specialist aligned to the federal and municipal governments.
He holds post-graduate degrees from Queen’s University.
