McClelland, Jack

▪ 2005

John Gordon McClelland 

      Canadian book publisher (b. July 30, 1922, Toronto, Ont.—d. June 14, 2004, Toronto), invigorated the world of Canadian literature with his passionate support of writers and with his wild publicity stunts to promote their books. Such exhibitions included dressing in a toga and riding down Toronto's busiest streets in a chariot and riding the city's streetcars wearing a “coat of many authors”—a jacket imprinted with book covers of works he had published. Even though his publishing company, McClelland & Stewart, struggled financially, McClelland was known to place his authors' careers ahead of his own profit. Through his perseverance McClelland brought attention to the works of several famous Canadian writers, including Margaret Atwood, Pierre Berton, Leonard Cohen, Margaret Laurence, Alice Munro, and Mordecai Richler.

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