Anna Porter
Encyclopedia
Anna Maria Porter, OC
, O.Ont
is a Canadian
publisher and novelist.
Born Anna Szigethy in Budapest
, she emigrated to New Zealand
in 1956 to escape the Soviet presence in Hungary
. She received a Bachelor degree and Master of Arts
degree from the University of Canterbury
. She started at McClelland & Stewart in 1969 and became president and publisher of Seal Books. In 1982, she founded Key Porter Books
and in 1986 she purchased a majority stake in Doubleday Canada
. She remains one of the most respected publishing professionals.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Board of Governors of York University
.
In 1991, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
for being "instrumental in bringing Canadian titles to the attention of the international market place". In 2003, she was awarded the Order of Ontario
. She has been awarded honorary degrees from Ryerson University
, St. Mary's University, and the Law Society of Upper Canada
.
In 2004 Porter sold her interest in Key Porter Books
to focus on writing. She has published three mystery novels and three books on Middle European history. Her most recent book is The Ghosts of Europe, published in September, 2010.
She is married to the lawyer Julian Porter
, and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
publisher and novelist.
Born Anna Szigethy in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, she emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1956 to escape the Soviet presence in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. She received a Bachelor degree and Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
. She started at McClelland & Stewart in 1969 and became president and publisher of Seal Books. In 1982, she founded Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books is a Canadian book publishing company. Founded in 1979 by Canadian publisher Anna Porter and Key Publishers Limited of Toronto, the company specializes in Canadian non-fiction, although it has published some fiction titles as well. A controlling share of the company was purchased...
and in 1986 she purchased a majority stake in Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada
Doubleday Canada is an imprint of the publishing company Random House of Canada. The company was previously known as Forboys, and was incorporated in 1936 and since 1945, has been known as Doubleday Canada Limited. Since 1986 Doubleday Canada Limited has been owned by Bertelsmann AG.See...
. She remains one of the most respected publishing professionals.
In 2004, she was appointed to the Board of Governors of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
In 1991, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for being "instrumental in bringing Canadian titles to the attention of the international market place". In 2003, she was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. She has been awarded honorary degrees from Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
, St. Mary's University, and the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
.
In 2004 Porter sold her interest in Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books is a Canadian book publishing company. Founded in 1979 by Canadian publisher Anna Porter and Key Publishers Limited of Toronto, the company specializes in Canadian non-fiction, although it has published some fiction titles as well. A controlling share of the company was purchased...
to focus on writing. She has published three mystery novels and three books on Middle European history. Her most recent book is The Ghosts of Europe, published in September, 2010.
She is married to the lawyer Julian Porter
Julian Porter
Julian Harris Porter, QC , is a Canadian lawyer.The son of Canadian lawyer and former Attorney-General of Ontario Dana Porter, he is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and the Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the bar in 1964, and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1976...
, and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Selected bibliography
- Hidden Agenda
- Mortal Sins
- The Bookfair Murders
- The Storyteller
- Kasztner's Train (2007)
- The Ghosts of Europe (2010)
Awards and honers
- 2010: Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, winner, The Ghosts of Europe
- 2008: Charles Taylor Literary Prize for Non-Fiction, short-list, Kasztner's Train
- 2007: Nereus Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize, winner, Kasztner's Train
External links
- Canadians of Hungarian ancestry