As the first collection of literary criticism focusing on Albertawriters, Wild Words establishes a basis for identifyingAlberta fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction as valid subjects ofstudy in their own right. By critically situating and assessingspecific Alberta authors according to genre, this volume continues thework begun with Melnyk's Literary History of Alberta.
Donna Coates is an Associate Professor in theEnglish Department at the University of Calgary. She has publishednumerous articles and book chapters on Canadian, Australian, and NewZealand fiction and drama (especially by women) and recently co-editeda volume on Canadian war drama. George Melnyk is anAssociate Professor of Canadian Studies and Film Studies in the Facultyof Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary. He is ahistorian of Canadian culture and has published numerous books in thefield.