Colin McAdam, a Giller Prize-nominated Canadian author, has reworked the ancient Greek pastoral romance 'Daphnis and Chloe' into a contemporary novel that addresses modern issues such as human trafficking and drug abuse. The original 2nd-century work by Longus, often considered the first true novel, has been transformed by McAdam into a story set in a Pacific Northwest auto repair shop, featuring Greek immigrant characters. McAdam, a classic Greek scholar, explains that his version aims to connect ancient wisdom with present-day challenges, noting parallels between the Roman Empire's era of rapid change and today's digital culture. He describes the original work as part of a tradition that influenced Harlequin romances, featuring foundlings, adventures, and happy endings. McAdam's creative resurgence came after a professional low point with his 2022 novel 'Black Dove' experiencing poor sales despite critical acclaim. He found renewed inspiration in the ancient story, which helped him reconnect with his love for writing. The novel blends elements of romance with darker themes of exploitation, yet maintains the original's core message about love's resilience. McAdam believes the ancient Greeks' human experiences remain relevant today, particularly during times of rapid societal change when people seek wisdom from the past. His work has been longlisted for Canada's most prestigious literary award, the Giller Prize, indicating its recognition within the literary community. The author emphasizes that the ancient stories were not about idealized pastoral life but about human experiences that transcend time, making them applicable to modern struggles.

October 5, 2026 (Toronto, ON) – Five formidable Canadian novels have been named to the 2026 Giller Prize shortlist. Representing five publishing imprints, four provinces, and three national bestseller...

Find the five books shortlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. The shortlist will be announced on Monday, November 16.

Cordelia Strube's novel, At Sea in a Sieve, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. CORDELIA STRUBE is the author of 11 critically acclaimed novels. Winner of the CBC literary competition, she...

Lisa Robertson's novel, Riverwork, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. LISA ROBERTSON is a Canadian poet, essayist, and novelist who lives in France. Born in Toronto in 1961, she was a lon...

Patmeena Sabit's novel, Good People, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. PATMEENA SABIT was born in Kabul a few years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. When she was a month old, he...

Mai Nguyen's novel, Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. MAI NGUYEN is a Vietnamese Canadian author whose debut novel, Sunshine Nails, was longlisted for Can...

Wayne Johnston's novel, The Novice of Holloway Hall, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. WAYNE JOHNSTON was born and raised in Goulds, Newfoundland. His #1 nationally bestselling novels in...

Tara Gereaux's novel, Wild People Quiet, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. TARA GEREAUX is the author of Saltus, which was shortlisted for the 2022 ReLit Novel Award and three Saskatchew...

Colin McAdam's novel, Daphnis and Chloe, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. COLIN MCADAM is an internationally acclaimed novelist with a PhD from Cambridge on translations of Ancient Gree...

Nazanine Hozar's novel, The Small Ones, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. NAZANINE HOZAR was born in Tehran, Iran, before coming to Canada as a child. Her debut novel, Aria, is an award-...

Nicholas Herring's novel, Your Breath in Charcoal, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. NICHOLAS HERRING’S head-spinning debut novel, Some Hellish, won the prestigious Atwood Gibson Writers...

Michelle Good's novel, Eliza Sunshine, has been longlisted for the 2026 Giller Prize. MICHELLE GOOD is a writer of Cree ancestry and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. After wo...