the Fiddlehead

The Fiddlehead

Fredericton, NB

Canada’s longest livingleterary journal

4 times a year

Atlantic Canada's International Literary Journal

publishing

1945

history

1945 It was �rst published in 1945 by the Bliss Carman Society of Fredericon, which was founded in 1940 by Alfred Bailey at the University of New Brunswick.

�e ��eenth issue contains a list of regular contributors. 1952

early 50's �e magazine began to take on a life of its own.

early 1953 �e Fiddlehead grow into a national literary magazine.Cogswell became editor of �e Fiddlehead.

1959 Began including one piece of short �ction per issue.

1961 Only two years a�er becoming editor, Cogswell increased the magazine’s total subscribers “by 658.064%,” from 31 to over 200.

history

1967 Kent �ompson became editor, he continued the professionalization project that Cogswell began. He increased the complement of short stories in every issue.

Robert Gibbs took over as editor. 1971

1975 Roger Ploude initially agreed to look a�er the journal in 1975.

Summer 1981 New editor Peter �omas rea�rmed the magazine’s regional origins

early 80's Don Conway assisted and then replaced him in the early 80s and Michael Taylor took over full-time for the last half of the decade.

1995 Don McKay wrote that the journal has never subscribed to “speci�c doctrines and programs” and has consistently “placed attention ahead of direction, broad aesthetic range ahead of selective listening”

history

2010 A Fiddlehead blog was also established. �e journal has also become less anxious about positioning itself as a national Canadian literary magazine.

1999 Along with subscription, submission, and contest information, tables of contents for every issue published since 1999 can be found on the magazine’s website

Ross Leckie, editor from 1997 to the present1997

editorial

Do not look at this journal as old! It is experienced; wise enough to recognize excellence; always looking for freshness and surprise.”“

Poems

Short stories

Book reviews

Personal Essays

magazine

design

Launchissue

Currentissue

full design

annual contest

�e Fiddlehead was, and is, an essential part of Canada’s literary life. Its editors have always taken seriously their responsibility to seek out and encourage new young writers and give them a hearing in the company of their elders.”

“ - John Metcalf