Halifax is a beautiful and book-loving city steeped in history, culture, and literature. According to the
National Geographic 2014 Traveler, Halifax is also one of the world’s smartest cities
.
Let’s explore our city’s hidden literary treasures and vibrant bookish landscape. Famous writers associated with Halifax include:

Canada’s first French-Canadian novelist,
Philippe-Ignace-François Aubert de Gaspé Jr. (
L’Influence d’un livre). “Aubert de Gaspé came to Halifax in 1840 and
briefly taught at the Poorhouse, which was located just up the road on
Doyle Street. He later accepted a job as parliamentary reporter for the
Halifax Morning Post.”

A beloved Nova Scotian author
Thomas Raddall (
The Governor’s Lady,
Halifax: Warden of the North) “chose early Halifax for many of his
novels, mixing real historical figures and events with fictional
characters.”

The world famous
Anne of Green Gables author,
Lucy Maud Montgomery, “came to Halifax in
1895 to attend Dalhousie University and instantly fell in love with the
city. “
Charles Dickens (
The Pickwick Papers,
A Christmas Carol). “For one
day, on January 21st, 1842, Joseph Howe hosted notable author Charles
Dickens on his first visit to Canada.”
Oscar Wilde (
The Picture of Dorian Gray) “arrived in Halifax on October 8th, 1882 and
took to the stage, the next night, at the Academy of Music, which once
stood on the site of the Maritime Centre.”
“For almost two decades,
Anna Leonowens (
The English Governess at the Siamese Court) lived in Halifax with her
daughter Avis and son-in-law, Thomas Fyshe, general manager of the Bank
of Nova Scotia.”

Many writers have found Halifax to be an inspiring setting for their fiction:
The Halifax Connection by
Marie Jakober
The Deception of Livvy Higgs by Donna Morrissey
Burden of Desire by
Robert MacNeil
Going Fast by
Elaine McCluskey
Sign of the Cross by
Anne Emery (Monty Collins mysteries)
Shoot Me by
Lesley Crewe
Homing by
Stephanie Domet
Dear Reader, you can read more about Halifax literary scene in the
Halifax Literary Walking Tour
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