BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Second Prize Winner, Canada's National One-Act Playwriting Competition (1994)
Shylock is an award-winning play about a Jewish actor who finds himself condemned by his own community for his portrayal of Shakespeare's notorious Jew. Shylock has provided much fuel for the fiery debates surrounding censorship, historical revisionism, political correctness, and the thorny discussion of whether certain plays are suitable for contemporary productions - Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice amongst them.
Praise for Shylock:
"Not an ounce of fat on this play. Pure gold." (CBC Radio)
"Mark Leiren-Young's play is very strong and an important contribution to the vexed and vexing question of the alleged anti-Semitism of The Merchant of Venice." (Patrick Stewart, actor)
"I leapt at the opportunity to present Shylock at Vancouver's Shakespeare Festival. It is a fascinating play. Bravo Leiren-Young! Bravo Shylock!" (Christopher Gaze, Artistic Director, Bard on the Beach Theatre Company)
Mark Leiren-Young is a popular Canadian performer, playwright and journalist. His plays have been produced throughout Canada and his award-winning drama, the romantic fantasy 'Blueprints from Space' received a staged reading at New York's Open Eye Theatre. Mark's first radio drama, 'Dim Sum Diaries', received international attention when it debuted on CBC's Morningside in 1991. Mark's humorous commentaries have appeared in such publications as 'The Hollywood Reporter', 'The Toronto Star', 'The Vancouver Sun', and 'The Georgia Straight'. His writing has also appeared in 'The Utne Reader', 'TV Guide', 'This Magazine', 'The Globe and Mail', and the 'South China Morning Post'. Leirin-Young has two plays published by Anvil Press: 'Shylock' and 'Articles of Faith'.