About the author
John Robert Colombo (born March 24, 1936) is a Canadian writer, editor, and poet. He has published over 200 titles, including major anthologies and reference works. == Early life == Colombo was born in Kitchener, Ontario, in 1936. He attended the University of Toronto, where he began organizing literary events in the late 1950s. He started writing and publishing poetry in the early 1960s; his first book of poetry Lines for the Last Days was illustrated by William Kurelek. Through his imprint, Hawkshead Press, he published Margaret Atwood's first collection of poetry in 1963. He also facilitated the appearance of first books of fiction written by Hugh Hood and Alice Munro, as well as the first mass-market publication of a science-fiction story by Robert J. Sawyer. He served as literary manager of the old Bohemian Embassy in Toronto, writing poetry and pioneering "found poetry" in Canada. He later moved into editorial positions with prominent Toronto's publishing houses, including McClelland and Stewart and Hurtig. During this period, he edited George Grant's Lament for a Nation, and served as managing editor of the Tamarack Review, then the leading literary quarterly.
📖 Where to start with John Robert Colombo
💬 What our editors say about John Robert Colombo's books
“Colombo’s collection offers a compelling anthology for enthusiasts of Canadian spectral secrets, though it may not suit those seeking rigorous academic analysis or fictional narratives. The strength lies in its curation of…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on The Big Book of Canadian Ghost Stories
“Colombo’s compilation offers a straightforward dive into sixty-nine supernatural encounters across Ontario, appealing to fans of regional ghost lore. However, it does not suit skeptics seeking rigorous empirical evidence or…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Ghost Stories of Ontario - PGW Colombo, John Robert
“While 'Ghost Stories of Canada' offers a compelling archive for spiritualism enthusiasts, it is not suited for readers seeking tightly plotted fictional horror or literary fiction. Those expecting original narrative arcs or…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Ghost Stories of Canada
📋 Editions by John Robert Colombo in the catalog
| Edition | Year | Publisher | Pages | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Book of Canadian Ghost Stories | 2008 | Dundurn Press | 512 | 9781550028447 |
| Ghost Stories of Ontario - PGW Colombo, John Robert | 1995 | Dundurn Press | 240 | 9780888821768 |
| Ghost Stories of Canada | 2000 | Dundurn Press | 224 | 9780888822222 |
