When the Earth Was Flat by Raymond Fraser

Farley Mowat once called Fredericton's Raymond Fraser "the best literary voice to come belling out of the Maritimes in decades," and fellow New Brunswick scribe Alden Nowlan described him as one of the most gifted  writers he knew. Those reputable accolades only served as further testimony to Fraser's hugely understated literary impact and influence upon both the Atlantic Canadian region and the rest of the country. For decades, those in the know have acknowledged the novelist, short story writer, poet, biographer, and journalist as one of New Brunswick's top writers – a reputation he more than justified with When the Earth Was Flat.
Published by Black Moss Press in 2007, and subtitled "Remembering Leonard Cohen, Alden Nowlan, the Flat Earth Society, the King James monarchy hoax, the Montreal Story Tellers and other curious matters," *When the Earth Was Flat* is an eclectic and intense anthology of autobiographical memoirs, short stories, histories, and essays. The critically acclaimed collection includes quirky pieces on subjects as diverse as Bob Dylan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Santa Claus, Leo Ferrari, Hugh Hood, Queen Elizabeth II, John Metcalf, Lord Mountbatten, Al Pittman, Irving Layton, the Stewart Monarchy in Exile, Halloween on the Miramichi, tabloid journalism, New Brunswickers in Hollywood, and evangelistic miracle workers.
Critics and readers alike long knew Fraser as one of Atlantic Canada's leading poets. But like a master musician improvising on a new instrument, Fraser demonstrated an equally impressive mastery of prose with this book. He didn't turn from the lyrical dark humour that marks his poetry, however. Rather, he succeeded at channelling those energies into a different literary style. It's hard to overstate what Fraser accomplished with this unique, creative, and artfully rendered book. It's a treat for general readers, and it ought to be required reading for anyone who dreams of making a living as a writer.    – Trevor J. Adams & Stephen Patrick Clare, *Atlantic Canada's 100 Greatest Books*