Christopher Dewdney

Christopher Dewdney (born May 9, 1951) is a prize-winning Canadian poet and essayist. His poetry reflects his interest in natural history. His book Acquainted with the Night, an investigation into darkness was nominated for both the Charles Taylor Prize and the Governor General's Award.

Early life and education Dewdney was born and grew up in London, Ontario. He is the son of Canadian artist and author Selwyn Dewdney, brother of Alexander Keewatin Dewdney. He was influenced by London artists Greg Curnoe and Jack Chambers. Dewdney is the long-time partner of writer Barbara Gowdy.

Career Dewdney moved to Toronto, Ontario, in 1980.

In 1988, when he published his book Last Flesh, he was teaching at the McLuhan Institute in Toronto. In 1992, he was writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario. In 2002, he published The Natural History, a book-length poem which brings together and interprets several scientific disciplines.

In 2007, he was presented with the Harbourfront Prize at the International Festival of Authors. In 2008, he was writer-in-residence at the University of Toronto.

Soul of World, Unlocking the Secrets of Time was listed at number 4 in The Globe and Mail′s 100 Books of 2008. Acquainted with the Night was released as a feature documentary in 2010, and in 2011 the film received a Gemini Award. Dewdney appeared in the classic documentary Poetry in Motion.

He is currently a professor at the Glendon campus of York University.

Poetic style and critical evaluation Dewdney's poetry has been described as post-modern and experimental. He frequently uses poetry to highlight the wonders of science. Author Karl Jirgens praises his ability to "articulate the link...between the empirical and the mystic."

In his 1986 book, The Immaculate Perception, Dewdney describes nature as "divine technology," and language as a "cognitive prosthesis". In this same book he refers to language as an "organically derived software downloaded into a child's mind at an early age". He writes that this process leaves a wound, "language acquisition trauma", in the unconscious. His two subsequent non-fiction books, The Secular Grail and Last Flesh, deal with consciousness, media and a possible future evolution of humans. In more recent years his nonfiction have explored the subjects of night and time.