Gianna Patriarca

Gianna Patriarca was born in Ceprano, Frosinone, Italy. She immigrated to Canada in l960 as a child. She has a B.A. in English Literature and B.Ed. from York University and presently teaches for the Toronto Catholic Board. She is the author of five books of poetry: Italian Women and Other Tragedies (Guernica, 1994), Daughters for Sale (Guernica, 1997), Ciao Baby (Guernica, 1999), Invisible Woman (Lyricalmyrical, 2003), and What My Arms Can Carry (Guernica, 2005). In 2004, she published a children's book, Nonna and the Girls Next Door (Lyricalmyrical, 2004). Gianna's poetry has appeared in a number of literary magazines and anthologies, including The Anthology of Italian-Canadian Writers (Guernica, 1998), Curaggia (Women's Press, 1998), Pillars of Lace (Guernica, 1998), Dagoes Read (Guernica, 1996), L'Altra Storia (Monteleone, Italy, l999), Contemporary Poets (St. James Press, 2000), Inside Poetry (Harcourt Press, 2002), and Sweet Lemons: Writings with a Sicilian Accent (Legas, 2004). She has read her poetry on radio and made frequent television appearances. She has been a featured reader at Harbourfront Reading Series and at many universities including Yale and Calumet in the USA. Gianna's poetry has been adapted for the stage with a very successful run at Canada Stage Berkley Street Theatre (Toronto, 200l). She is currently working on a novel titled The Sicilian's Bride.


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