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John Sutherland

1919 – 1956

Canadian writer

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About John Sutherland

Lived 1919 – 1956 (aged 37). John Sutherland was a Canadian editor, literary critic, poet, writer and editing staff.

John Sutherland (21 February 1919 – 1 September 1956) was a Canadian poet, literary critic, and magazine editor based in Montreal, Quebec. Although he published numerous poems of his own, he was perhaps better known as the founder and editor of two important Canadian literary magazines, First Statement and Northern Review.

Before his death from cancer, Sutherland also published the anthology Other Canadians: An Anthology of New Poetry in Canada, 1940–46, a collection of Canadian modernist poetry, and one of the first critical studies of the poetry of E. J. Pratt. although Anderson would in fact come out as gay later in life, he was married at the time to Peggy Doernbach, and threatened to sue. Sutherland printed a retraction in the following issue. The incident was little known outside of Montreal at the time, as both First Statement and Anderson's rival magazine Preview had small, primarily local circulations, although it would come to be more extensively analyzed in the 1990s as an important incident in the history of LGBT literature in Canada.

Sutherland would also come to be known for an apparent feud with poet A. J. M. Smith, with Other Canadians being perceived as a direct riposte to Smith's anthology The Book of Canadian Poetry.

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Important facts

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Frequently asked questions

Who was John Sutherland?

Canadian writer

When was John Sutherland born?

John Sutherland was born on 21 February 1919.

When did John Sutherland die?

John Sutherland died on 1 September 1956.

What was John Sutherland's occupation?

John Sutherland was an editor, literary critic, poet, writer and editing staff.

What nationality was John Sutherland?

John Sutherland was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Sutherland

· Wikidata: Q6259699

· DBpedia: John Sutherland (Canadian writer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Sutherland. https://biography.guide/john-sutherland-editor/

MLA: "John Sutherland." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-sutherland-editor/.

Chicago: "John Sutherland." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-sutherland-editor/.

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