Vancouver is a city rich in literary history. Thanks to the Vancouver Public Library’s (VPL) Literary Landmarks, you can explore places that inspired famous authors, celebrated books, and historical literary events. These landmarks offer a great way to explore Vancouver and learn about local authors.
What Are Vancouver’s Literary Landmarks?
The VPL Literary Landmarks program shares locations around the city that have literary connections. Some are places where well-known authors lived, where famous books were set, or where major literary events took place. Through these landmarks, visitors can discover Vancouver’s and Canada’s cultural heritage and step into the world of their favorite writers. They can experience the real-life settings that shaped their works.
Must-Visit Literary Landmarks in Vancouver
If you’re interested in exploring Vancouver’s literary past, here are a few notable landmarks to check out:
- The Vancouver Public Library (Kitsilano Branch) – 2425 Macdonald Street.
Beforeachieving worldwide recognition as one of the greatest short story writers of all time, Alice Munro worked at the Vancouver Public Library’s Kitsilano branch. Munro became the first Canadian woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Her connection to Vancouver marks an important chapter in her early career. Visiting this library offers a chance to walk the same halls where she once worked. - Emily Carr – former studio, 500 Granville St – plaque is on lamppost in front of 570 Granville St.
After moving to Vancouver in 1906, Emily Carr taught art classes at this address in a rented studio until 1910. After a long sojourn in France, studying painting, she rented a studio at 1465 West Broadway. Published when Carr was sixty-nine, her first printing of 2,500 copies sold out. - Douglas Coupland – former headquarters of Vancouver Magazine: 1205 Richards St. Plaque is on lamppost at southwest corner of Richards St. and Davie Street.
In 1987, Douglas Coupland had a solo sculpture show at the Vancouver Art Gallery called Floating World and he began describing his own ‘twentysomething’ generation for Vancouver magazine. It was, an urban lifestyles magazine edited by Malcolm Parry, at this location. Having written a few Budget Gourmet reviews for the Vancouver Sun, Coupland worked for Western Living magazine as a staff writer before his stint with soon-to-be-defunct Vista magazine where he revisited the realm of his magazine article on Gen-X as a comic strip. Coupland was subsequently contracted to write a non-fiction ‘handbook’ on Generation X. Eventually Coupland went to Palm Springs and completed his breakthrough novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, rejected by 15 Canadian publishers and 14 American publishers before it appeared in March of 1991. - The Home of Margaret Atwood – 3800 Block, W. 11th Ave
One of Canada’s foremost authors, Margaret Atwood, lived near here in 1964-1965 while working as a lecturer at UBC. “It was a wonderful breakthrough year for me,” she has recalled.
How to Explore Vancouver’s Literary Landmarks
- Visit VPL’s Website: The VPL provides a detailed list of literary landmarks, including maps and background information, making it easy to plan your visit.
- Attend Local Author Events: Many of Vancouver’s literary landmarks are closely tied to ongoing book readings, author talks, and festivals, which offer even more opportunities to engage with the literary community.
- Read Books by Vancouver Authors: Enhance your exploration by reading works by authors connected to the city. From Alice Munro’s short stories to Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano, these books offer a richer experience when paired with visits to their associated landmarks.
Connect with Vancouver’s Literary Culture
Exploring Vancouver’s literary landmarks is a great way to learn more about the Vancouver’s rich writers’ history. For more details and to start your literary adventure, visit VPL’s Literary Landmarks. Happy exploring!