Edward O. Phillips

Edward Openshaw Phillips (November 26, 1931 – May 30, 2020) was a Canadian novelist who wrote both mystery novels and mainstream literary fiction.^[1] He was best known for his mystery novel series featuring gay detective Geoffrey Chadwick.^[2]

Edward O. Phillips
Born	Edward Openshaw Phillips (1931-11-26)November 26, 1931 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	May 30, 2020(2020-05-30) (aged 88) Canada
Occupation	Novelist
Period	1980s–2020s
Notable works	Sunday's Child, Buried on Sunday

Biography

Phillips lived most of his life in Westmount, Quebec.^[2] He graduated from Bishop's College School and earned a law degree from the Université de Montréal in 1956, but decided against legal practice.^[1] He subsequently graduated from Harvard University with a master's degree in teaching, and later earned a second master's degree in English literature from Boston University.^[1] After teaching school for seven years, first in the public English school system and then at Selwyn House School, he pursued a long-time interest in painting.^[1] His work was exhibited in five one-man and numerous group shows.

His first novel, Sunday's Child, was published in 1981,^[2] and was shortlisted for the Books in Canada First Novel Award. Phillips won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel in 1987 for his novel Buried on Sunday,^[2] and was shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour in 1989 for his novel Hope Springs Eternal.^[3] His short story "Matthew and Chauncy" was adapted by Anne Claire Poirier into the 1989 film Salut Victor.^[4]

He was out as gay.^[2] His partner, Kenneth Woodman, predeceased him in 2018.^[1]

Phillips died in May 2020, from heart failure and complications of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.^[5][6]

Works

• Sunday's Child
• Where There's a Will
• A Voyage on Sunday
• No Early Birds
• The Mice Will Play
• Buried on Sunday
• Sunday Best
• Working on Sunday
• Hope Springs Eternal
• The Landlady's Niece
• A Month of Sundays
• The Queen's Court