In His Defense

"What a prick/dinosaur. There are a few things that University of Toronto English professor David Gilmour does not like: all Canadian writers, Chinese writers and female writers."
Brandie Weikle, Canadian Family editor-in-chief

So much for civility. So much for the punctilious use of appropriate language from someone involved with a family-oriented on-line magazine. Appealing to mothers in particular of youngsters, informing them how they can be better mothers, feed their families interesting and nutritious meals, hints on decor, on coping with pregnancy, on maintaining a firm and loving relationship. In short; whatever needs fixing in human relations, turn to them for advice.

And this is how their editor-in-chief expresses herself. Evidently insults and profanities were not isolated to this one individual, but came in droves from outraged women in the literary scene throughout Canada, in response to an honest self-evaluation by a literature professor at University of Toronto, English prof. David Gilmour, acclaimed novelist, and possessor of literary awards, now edging toward the Giller.

His personal judgement has been found wanting. Enormously so, in the arrogance of his declaration that he has found no female writer outside of the troubled bluestocking famously Bloomsbury-grouped Virginia Woolf who found life so unappealing she filled her pockets with stones the better to drown in the river passing through the homestead she shared with the hapless Leonard.

Deeply depressing, as was her darkening mood, leading her to end it all. Perhaps its the richness of the social scene and the frenetic tragedy of the lives of those who acted within it that renders her the sole female worthy of David Gilmour's admiration as a writer: "the only writer that interests me as a woman writer", and that, generally speaking he fails to "love women writers enough to teach them."

"If someone wants a course on Margaret Atwood or Alice Munro, I could put it on my curriculum, but I won't teach it as well and as passionately as some of the teachers down the hall", he observed in an interview. As for Victoria College where the eminent author teaches, they noted that he "teaches elective seminars on his area of expertise, leaving other areas of literature to be taught by colleagues who can do so most effectively based on their areas of specialization."

And that says it all, tells the entire academic story in full. "His area of expertise", and "areas of specialization", and what more is there to be said in his defence? Little wonder he once stated: "I don't go to literary things at all. Canadian writers are so insecure that I can't bear their company." 

'Nuff said. Point made. By the man in question, now scrambling to defend himself from outraged howls of condemnation in rather unsavoury terms; shame, shame.

Author David Gilmour only teaches the books he loves — ones written by straight guys. Photo: Della Rollins for National Post