Head-waters of Canadian literature

"First, it helped convince some well-read Canadians that their country did, indeed, have a literature and an incipient literary tradition. Second, it lent that literature added impetus by defining its tradition and by applying perceptive, straightforward and uncompromising critical standards to the works it dared to proclaim worthy of such attention. The value of MacMechan's work today derives partly from the first aspects, which affords an historic perspective on the beginnings of Canadian literature. It also rests very much on the second aspect, providing still valid insights, appreciations and criticisms of works which remain vital elements in the Canadian cultural climate. A further value of MacMechan's work is noted by M.G.Parks, in the introduction: 'His attempt to see Canadian and French-Canadian as contributing to one literature, is....a model....for a synthesis still contemplated but unachieved."-Publisher