A Climate Charged is a courageous book. In a series of essays, B.W. Powe takes on the major literary, critical and artistic figures who have shaped the contemporary literature of Canada - McLuhan, Frye, Layton, Cohen, Laurence, Atwood, DAvies and Richler. What emerges is provocative, at times outrageous, but most of all thoughtful. This collection of essays should not be ignored. It has a point of view which is certain to stimulate debate.

Marshall McLuhan, the put-on -- Fear of Fryeing -- McLuhan and Frye, "Either/Or" -- The literary ring -- A climate charged : the intellectual atmosphere in Canada -- Raging bull : the poetry, politics, and polemics of Irving Layton -- Leonard Cohen -- "Stone angels" : an essay on Margaret Laurence -- "How to act" : an essay on Margaret Atwood -- Odd man out -- Mordecai Richler.