RBC Taylor Prize Jury Names 2019’s Five Best Books in Literary Non-Fiction

Press Release

January 9 , 2019

AT A STANDING-ROOM-ONLY press conference held in downtown Toronto, two of the 2019 RBC Taylor Prize jurors, Camilla Gibb and Roy MacGregor announced the five finalists for this year’s Prize.

The finalists for the 2019 RBC Taylor Prize are:
• Just Let Me Look at You: On Fatherhood, by Bill Gaston, published by Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Canada
• Jan in 35 Pieces: A Memoir in Music, by Ian Hampton, published by Porcupine’s Quill
• Lands of Lost Borders: Out of Bounds on the Silk Road, by Kate Harris, published by Knopf Canada.
• All Things Consoled: A Daughter’s Memoir, by Elizabeth Hay, published by McClelland & Stewart
• Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age, by Darrel J. McLeod, published by Douglas & MacIntyre.

Meet the finalists at a free 90-minute Round Table Discussion with the shortlisted authors in the Brigantine Room at Harbourfront, hosted by Toronto Star Books Editor, Deborah Dundas, on Thursday February 28, 2018 at 7pm presented the Toronto International Festival of Authors; and the Ben McNally Authors Brunch on Sunday March 3rd, at the Omni King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto (for tickets, please contact Ben McNally Books at (416) 361-0032 or visit benmcnallybooks.com).

The RBC Taylor Prize winner will be revealed at a gala luncheon at the King Edward Hotel on Monday March 4th, 2018. Each of the shortlisted writers will receive $5000, and the winner a further $25,000.

Sharing a commitment to emerging Canadian talent, The Charles Taylor Foundation and RBC will also grant the sixth annual RBC Taylor Prize Emerging Writers Award. Shortly after the announcement of the 2019 Prize, its winner will name their choice of emerging author to receive this $10,000 award.

Continuing that commitment to emerging Canadian talent, we will again present the RBC Taylor Prize Emergent Author Mentorship Program, of nationally selected non-fiction writers from several of the many prestigious writing programs in Canada. The five selected Emergent writers will be paired with a shortlisted author and will travel to Toronto for professional development and mentorship.

ILR5