Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review is devoted to the critical, historical and biographical study of literature in Canada and the systematic review of new Canadian books. The journal consists of studies of established and lesser-known writers, essays on new writers and contemporary literary movements, articles by poets, novelists and dramatists on their arts, and Canadian writing by English, French and American authors. It publishes articles in both English and French and initially, each year, issued a bibliography of books and essays in the field of Canadian literature. The idea for the quarterly originally came from the Department of English at UBC. Publication began with the assistance of a Koerner Foundation grant and with subscriptions from hundreds of individuals who sent them before the first issue. The first issue came out in the summer of 1959. George Woodcock was the first editor, the business manager was Inglis Bell, the circulation manager was Basil Stuart-Stubbs, and the typographer was Robert Reid. George Woodcock was succeeded as editor by William New in 1977. In his first editorial, Professor New paid tribute to George Woodcock when he stated that Canadian literature was built into the independent journal of opinion and analysis.