Swann

Swann is a 1990 novel by the late Carol Shields which details the impact of an obscure Canadian poet, Mary Swann, upon four individuals: a feminist literary critic, the poet's biographer, a small-town librarian, and a crusty, brilliant newspaper editor. The book is divided into 5 sections, the first four centering on one character, the last detailing (in screenplay format) what happens when all congregate for a conference on Swann.