Steven Heighton
Steven Heighton
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Steven Heighton is a Canadian author, poet, journalist, and educator.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on November 9, 1961. Unfortunately, he passed away on May 26, 2017.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Heighton was a proud Canadian, with a multifaceted career in the arts and academia. He worked as an author, poet, journalist, and educator throughout his life.
Early Life
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Born in England, Heighton spent much of his childhood moving between countries, including Canada, before settling in Toronto at age 13. This peripatetic upbringing instilled in him a keen sense of observation and a love for storytelling.
Heighton's early interests lay in music and literature. He began writing poetry and fiction as a teenager, drawing inspiration from the likes of William Carlos Williams and Sylvia Plath.
Education
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Heighton earned his Bachelor's degree from York University in Toronto. Afterward, he went on to receive an MFA in Creative Writing from the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Major Accomplishments
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- Heighton was a highly acclaimed poet and short-story writer.
- He was awarded the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction for his novel "The Dead of Winter".
- Heighton also received the Trillium Book Award for Poetry for his collection "The Son of a Gun".
Notable Works or Actions
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Heighton published numerous collections of poetry and short stories throughout his career. His writing often explored themes of identity, family, love, and loss.
In addition to his literary work, Heighton was also an accomplished translator. He translated several French-language novels into English, showcasing his skill in adapting foreign narratives for a Canadian audience.
Impact and Legacy
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Heighton's writing had a profound impact on the literary world. His unique voice and perspective inspired generations of readers and writers.
Through his work as a teacher and educator, Heighton mentored numerous aspiring authors and helped shape Canada's vibrant literary scene.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Steven Heighton is widely remembered for his poignant storytelling ability to capture the human condition. His writing continues to resonate with readers, offering insight into the complexities of life.
Heighton's commitment to exploring themes relevant to Canadian society, such as identity and belonging, has cemented his place within Canada's literary canon.
As a testament to his enduring legacy, Heighton's work remains widely studied in universities across the country.
Quotes by Steven Heighton
I had a book of essays out in 1997 in which I talked about the increasing virtuality of our lives. I've always been afraid of that in my own life.
I used to be more of a purist about literature. I thought, 'If it's a really propulsive story, then maybe there's something unliterary about it.'
I've been a traveller, but I don't travel so much now. I'm trying to do it vicariously through my writing. I'm trying to write books that will draw readers away from their lives but send them back in a more awakened way.
I'm supportive of practical nationalism, like the kind we need in Canada to avoid being absorbed into a much larger country. The kind of nationalism I despise as destructive and infantile is really just tribalism writ large.
It gets too easy to write from the point of view of a male character of my age, with the same cultural frame of reference.
Lyrical poets have to be in touch with visceral experience. I've always tried to avoid virtual experiences. That's emerging in my fiction.
Interest is never enough. If it doesn't haunt you, you'll never write it well. What haunts and obsesses you may, with luck and labour, interest your readers. What merely interests you is sure to bore them. (from Workbook)