House of Anansi Press

House of Anansi Press was founded in 1967 by writers Dennis Lee and David Godfrey to publish work by Canadian writers. Anansi owes its name to the West-African spider god Kwaku Anansi, one of the worlds greatest folk heroes. Godfrey, who taught in Ghana in his twenties, admired the wise but mischievous prankster who created the world. The two named their publishing venture House of Anansi Press, both as a nod to the small-but-mighty spider god, and a poke at a certain other publishing House. Staying true to the spirt of Anansi, their international, boundary-pushing namesake, the House got its start publishing authors such as Matt Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Northrop Frye, Austin Clarke, Harold Sonny Ladoo, Daphne Marlatt, Roch Carrier, and Margaret Atwood (who also worked for the press as an editor). Now under the ownership of Scott Griffin, House of Anansi Press is Canadas leading independent publisher. We continue to break new ground with award-winning and bestselling books that r...