Article

William Cyril Desmond Pacey

Published Online April 10, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

William Cyril Desmond Pacey, professor, literary critic (b at Dunedin, NZ 1 May 1917; d at Fredericton 4 July 1975). Educated at University of Toronto and Cambridge he taught English at University of Manitoba (1940-44) before moving to University of New Brunswick, where he remained.

Pacey, William Cyril Desmond

William Cyril Desmond Pacey, professor, literary critic (b at Dunedin, NZ 1 May 1917; d at Fredericton 4 July 1975). Educated at University of Toronto and Cambridge he taught English at University of Manitoba (1940-44) before moving to University of New Brunswick, where he remained. Though an accomplished short-story writer, Pacey was best known as a critic and scholar. He produced an anthology of Canadian stories (1947) and editions of Frederick Philip GROVE's stories (1971) and letters (1976). His criticism ranges from Frances BROOKE to Leonard COHEN, and includes books on Grove (1945) and Ethel Wilson (1968). Pacey's balanced judgements have generally endured and his close studies of individual works have been influential. His finest work is found in Creative Writing in Canada (1952) and Ten Canadian Poets (1958).