Brian Busby
@brianbusby.bsky.social
Writer, écrivain public, anthologist, literary historian, bibliophile, and three-time winner of the Ice Capades Colouring Contest.
Author of Character Parts (Knopf), A Gentleman of Pleasure (McGill-Queen's UP), and The Dusty Bookcase (Biblioasis).
Author of Character Parts (Knopf), A Gentleman of Pleasure (McGill-Queen's UP), and The Dusty Bookcase (Biblioasis).
I've experienced something similar with New Brunswick writer Charles Ross Graham (pen name David Montrose). Fortunately, Canadian copyright law allows use if one can demonstrate efforts to contact an estate. And so all four of his post-war thrillers are now back in print. My very favourite cover:
December 14, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I've experienced something similar with New Brunswick writer Charles Ross Graham (pen name David Montrose). Fortunately, Canadian copyright law allows use if one can demonstrate efforts to contact an estate. And so all four of his post-war thrillers are now back in print. My very favourite cover:
I understand. Bought this in Montreal in 1981. Another 10% is taken up by Kid Creole and the Coconuts' "Christmas on Riverside Drive."
December 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
I understand. Bought this in Montreal in 1981. Another 10% is taken up by Kid Creole and the Coconuts' "Christmas on Riverside Drive."
If you're stuck, head on over to Eaton's (The Toronto Globe, December 9, 1925):
November 28, 2025 at 9:28 PM
If you're stuck, head on over to Eaton's (The Toronto Globe, December 9, 1925):
Not any real estate developer's wife, but one who had modeled for Eaton's (or so she claimed).
November 27, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Not any real estate developer's wife, but one who had modeled for Eaton's (or so she claimed).
Don't mean to alarm, but Montreal's unseasonably cold and gloomy weather makes me wonder whether we're on the path to full Quintet.
November 15, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Don't mean to alarm, but Montreal's unseasonably cold and gloomy weather makes me wonder whether we're on the path to full Quintet.
The Long November first appeared in 1946 as a Dutton hardcover. In the next decade, five paperback editions followed, culminating in a pirated edition. After 67 years, it was returned to press by the Véhicule Press Ricochet imprint. Given the title, it seems almost the poster child for #Noirvember.
November 14, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The Long November first appeared in 1946 as a Dutton hardcover. In the next decade, five paperback editions followed, culminating in a pirated edition. After 67 years, it was returned to press by the Véhicule Press Ricochet imprint. Given the title, it seems almost the poster child for #Noirvember.
It was fifty years ago this evening.
November 11, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It was fifty years ago this evening.
Watching the movie because you didn't feel like reading the book and other mistakes made in high school.
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/11/wild...
#oldhollywood #silentfilm #canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/11/wild...
#oldhollywood #silentfilm #canlit #cdnhist
November 1, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Watching the movie because you didn't feel like reading the book and other mistakes made in high school.
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/11/wild...
#oldhollywood #silentfilm #canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/11/wild...
#oldhollywood #silentfilm #canlit #cdnhist
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
October 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
October 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
October 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Two ways to destroy the White House:
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
1) invade Canada;
2) elect Donald Trump.
Revisiting a novel I liked at twenty to find it is not as I remembered.
#canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/10/dont...
#canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/10/dont...
October 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Revisiting a novel I liked at twenty to find it is not as I remembered.
#canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/10/dont...
#canlit #cdnhist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/10/dont...
Every weekday for five years, this hardworking Canadian would pass a house an hour from Ottawa flying these two flags, one above the other. This continued even after Trump started talking about the 51st State and wouldn't rule out invasion. But when the tariffs hit, they came down pretty darn quick.
October 2, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Every weekday for five years, this hardworking Canadian would pass a house an hour from Ottawa flying these two flags, one above the other. This continued even after Trump started talking about the 51st State and wouldn't rule out invasion. But when the tariffs hit, they came down pretty darn quick.
From the pen of a 20-year-old who went on to write and produce NYPD Blue, Deadwood, and Homeland.
#canlit #cdnhist #bchist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/ted-...
#canlit #cdnhist #bchist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/ted-...
September 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
From the pen of a 20-year-old who went on to write and produce NYPD Blue, Deadwood, and Homeland.
#canlit #cdnhist #bchist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/ted-...
#canlit #cdnhist #bchist
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/ted-...
A shame that Ace no longer publishes double-backs.
September 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A shame that Ace no longer publishes double-backs.
A 58-year-old thriller about a secret organization intent on sabotaging Expo 67.
Starring Agent 18-67!
#canlit #cdnhist #expo67 #thrillers
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-fa...
Starring Agent 18-67!
#canlit #cdnhist #expo67 #thrillers
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-fa...
September 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
A 58-year-old thriller about a secret organization intent on sabotaging Expo 67.
Starring Agent 18-67!
#canlit #cdnhist #expo67 #thrillers
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-fa...
Starring Agent 18-67!
#canlit #cdnhist #expo67 #thrillers
brianbusby.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-fa...
My very favourite is Ethel Wilson's The Innocent Traveller (1949). The first book I ever read by the author, it made me a fan for life.
August 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
My very favourite is Ethel Wilson's The Innocent Traveller (1949). The first book I ever read by the author, it made me a fan for life.
Further to yesterday's Ziggy Stardust "star," "starman," "stardust" observation, word counts for the Psychedelic Furs' debut LP:
Love - 47
Stupid - 17
Useless - 7
"Stupidly" features once.
Love conquers all!
Love - 47
Stupid - 17
Useless - 7
"Stupidly" features once.
Love conquers all!
August 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Further to yesterday's Ziggy Stardust "star," "starman," "stardust" observation, word counts for the Psychedelic Furs' debut LP:
Love - 47
Stupid - 17
Useless - 7
"Stupidly" features once.
Love conquers all!
Love - 47
Stupid - 17
Useless - 7
"Stupidly" features once.
Love conquers all!
Strolling through the market square, procrastinating, today I put together this count of words used in The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars:
Star - 9
Starman – 6
Stardust – 2
Superstar - 2
To my surprise, all feature in just one song & "Stardust" isn't in Ziggy Stardust.
Star - 9
Starman – 6
Stardust – 2
Superstar - 2
To my surprise, all feature in just one song & "Stardust" isn't in Ziggy Stardust.
August 19, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Strolling through the market square, procrastinating, today I put together this count of words used in The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars:
Star - 9
Starman – 6
Stardust – 2
Superstar - 2
To my surprise, all feature in just one song & "Stardust" isn't in Ziggy Stardust.
Star - 9
Starman – 6
Stardust – 2
Superstar - 2
To my surprise, all feature in just one song & "Stardust" isn't in Ziggy Stardust.