As the first collection of literary criticism focusing on Alberta writers, Wild Words establishes a basis for identifying Alberta fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction as valid subjects of study in their own right. By critically situating and assessing specific Alberta authors according to genre, this volume continues the work begun with Melnyk's Literary History of Alberta.
Donna Coates is an associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Calgary. She has published numerous articles and book chapters on Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand fiction and drama (especially by women) and recently co-edited a volume on Canadian war drama. George Melnyk is an associate professor of Canadian studies and film studies in the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary. He is a historian of Canadian culture and has published numerous books in the field.