This paper examines how Jane Rule's interactions with the publishing industry reveal her attempts to make an impact on socio-cultural conventions and to safeguard her freedom of expression and literary integrity. Her negotiations with various publishing figures and institutions, such as those with Robert Weaver of CBC radio, Carol J. Meyer of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, and Chatelaine magazine, and with her literary agents over matters related to socio-cultural censorship partly suggest what they conceived their roles to be in the publication process. These negotiations also demonstrated her part in redefining expectations and protocols that determined the value of her work, the degree to which her work was edited, and the venues in which her work appeared. The disagreements with two of her literary agents became especially significant in catalyzing their business terms?and in making plain that Rule privileged literary freedom above pecuniary matters.
Please note that works on the Canadian Literature website may not be the final versions as they appear in the journal, as additional editing may take place between the web and print versions. If you are quoting reviews, articles, and/or poems from the Canadian Literature website, please indicate the date of access.