Governor General's Literary Awards

Program · Canada · Tier 2: Major National and Category Prizes · General Literature

Canada's major national program recognising English- and French-language books across numerous categories.

Official site / source ↗

2023

1 books

A History of Burning

A History of Burning

Janika Oza · 2023

2020

3 books

Five Little Indians

Winner

Five Little Indians

Canadians, University of British Columbia Alumni Association, Michelle Good, author, Cree · 2020

Indians on Vacation

Indians on Vacation

Thomas King · 2020

The Baudelaire Fractal

The Baudelaire Fractal

Lisa Robertson · 2020

2018

2 books

The Red Word

Winner

The Red Word

Sarah Henstra · 2018

This Wound is a World

This Wound is a World

Billy-Ray Belcourt · 2018

2017

2 books

Le Poids de la neige

Winner

Le Poids de la neige

Christian Guay-Poliquin · 2017

We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night

Winner

We'll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night

Joel Thomas Hynes · 2017

2016

1 books

Do Not Say We Have Nothing

Winner

Do Not Say We Have Nothing

Madeleine Thien · 2016

2015

1 books

Daddy Lenin and Other Stories

Winner

Daddy Lenin and Other Stories

Guy Vanderhaeghe · 2015

2014

1 books

The Back of the Turtle

Winner

The Back of the Turtle

Thomas King · 2014

2013

3 books

Pour les désespérés seulement

Winner

Pour les désespérés seulement

René Lapierre · 2013

The Luminaries

Winner

The Luminaries

Eleanor Catton · 2013

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

Winner

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

Teresa Toten · 2013

2012

1 books

The Purchase

Winner

The Purchase

Linda Spalding · 2012

2011

1 books

The Sisters Brothers

Winner

The Sisters Brothers

Patrick deWitt · 2011

2010

2 books

Cool Water

Winner

Cool Water

Dianne Warren · 2010

Ru

Winner

Ru

Kim Thúy · 2010

2009

1 books

The Mistress of Nothing

Winner

The Mistress of Nothing

Kate Pullinger · 2009

2008

1 books

The Origin of Species

Winner

The Origin of Species

Nino Ricci · 2008

2007

1 books

Divisadero

Winner

Divisadero

Michael Ondaatje · 2007

2006

1 books

The Law of Dreams

Winner

The Law of Dreams

Peter Behrens · 2006

2005

1 books

A Perfect Night to Go to China

Winner

A Perfect Night to Go to China

David Gilmour · 2005

2003

2 books

Elle

Winner

Elle

Douglas Glover · 2003

Peacemakers

Winner

Peacemakers

Margaret MacMillan · 2003

2001

2 books

Clara Callan

Winner

Clara Callan

Richard B. Wright · 2001

Quel Canada pour les autochtones? la fin de l'exclusion

Winner

Quel Canada pour les autochtones? la fin de l'exclusion

Renée Dupuis · 2001

2000

2 books

Anil's Ghost

Winner

Anil's Ghost

Michael Ondaatje · 2000

Looking for X

Winner

Looking for X

Deborah Ellis · 2000

1997

1 books

The Underpainter

Winner

The Underpainter

Jane Urquhart · 1997

1995

2 books

The Maestro

Winner

The Maestro

Tim Wynne-Jones · 1995

The Roaring Girl

Winner

The Roaring Girl

Greg Hollingshead · 1995

1993

1 books

The Stone Diaries

Winner

The Stone Diaries

Carol Shields · 1993

1991

1 books

Such a Long Journey

Winner

Such a Long Journey

Rohinton Mistry · 1991

1990

1 books

Lives of the Saints

Winner

Lives of the Saints

Nino Ricci · 1990

1989

1 books

Whale Music

Winner

Whale Music

Paul Quarrington · 1989

1985

1 books

The Handmaid's Tale

Winner

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood · 1985

1982

1 books

Man Descending

Winner

Man Descending

Guy Vanderhaeghe · 1982

1978

1 books

Who Do You Think You Are?

Winner

Who Do You Think You Are?

Alice Munro · 1978

1974

1 books

The Diviners

Winner

The Diviners

Margaret Laurence · 1974

1972

1 books

The Manticore

Winner

The Manticore

Robertson Davies · 1972

1971

2 books

St. Urbain's Horseman

Winner

St. Urbain's Horseman

Mordecai Richler · 1971

The Last Spike

Winner

The Last Spike

Pierre Berton · 1971

1968

2 books

Dance of the Happy Shades And Other Stories

Winner

Dance of the Happy Shades And Other Stories

Alice Munro · 1968

Selected Poems 1956–1968

Winner

Selected Poems 1956–1968

Leonard Cohen · 1968

1966

2 books

A Jest of God

Winner

A Jest of God

Margaret Laurence · 1966

The Circle Game

Winner

The Circle Game

Margaret Atwood · 1966

1962

2 books

Running to Paradise

Winner

Running to Paradise

Kildare Dobbs · 1962

The Gutenberg Galaxy

Winner

The Gutenberg Galaxy

Marshall McLuhan · 1962

1961

1 books

Hear Us O Lord from Heaven Thy Dwelling Place

Winner

Hear Us O Lord from Heaven Thy Dwelling Place

Malcolm Lowry · 1961

1959

1 books

The Watch That Ends the Night

Winner

The Watch That Ends the Night

Hugh MacLennan · 1959

1957

1 books

Street of Riches

Winner

Street of Riches

Gabrielle Roy · 1957

1947

1 books

The Tin Flute

Winner

The Tin Flute

Gabrielle Roy · 1947