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Steven Langdon

Goodreads Author

Born

in Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Website

http://seabooks.webs.com/

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Social Sciences, Children's Books

Influences

The people I love, Africa and my home

Member Since

July 2011

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As a journalist for Canada's largest newspaper, the Toronto Star, Steven Langdon began reporting from southern and eastern Africa -- and he has since lived and worked in the continent for years. What began as a job has taken over his life, as he has built family ties and friendships throughout Africa. "Most important," says Steven, "I've been able to connect with thriving, vibrant African community groups who are winning results for people on the ground from Senegal to Malawi. Their spirit pushed me to write this novel." In his work in Africa, Steven Langdon has helped support African groups working against corruption. He brings his expertise on this subject to this novel, and to understanding the severe challenges of countering fraud. "I'v As a journalist for Canada's largest newspaper, the Toronto Star, Steven Langdon began reporting from southern and eastern Africa -- and he has since lived and worked in the continent for years. What began as a job has taken over his life, as he has built family ties and friendships throughout Africa. "Most important," says Steven, "I've been able to connect with thriving, vibrant African community groups who are winning results for people on the ground from Senegal to Malawi. Their spirit pushed me to write this novel." In his work in Africa, Steven Langdon has helped support African groups working against corruption. He brings his expertise on this subject to this novel, and to understanding the severe challenges of countering fraud. "I've known people like Patricia well," Steven says, "and admire how they stay vibrant and optimistic despite the heavy odds they face. They don't win as often as they should, but they keep fighting! "The human context that helps them keep going, the complex way that allies connect to their fight -- all this makes for a lively and thoughtful story." Steven Langdon lived and worked in Eastern Africa as an economist and researcher, earning his D.Phil. from the University of Sussex in the UK and becoming an Associate Professor of Economics at Carleton University in Canada. He later returned to work in Southern and Eastern Africa and was appointed an Associate Director of the International Development Research Centre. In 1984 he was elected to Canada's House of Commons as M.P. for Essex Windsor and became chair of a special sub-committee to review and improve World Bank aid policy. After leaving Parliament in 1993, Langdon became Associate Professor of Development at Trent University, where he launched a project to connect Ghana and Canada university students with local community groups throughout Ghana. Steven Langdon's writing has been published widely in various countries. He also wrote a blog on development for the Governance Village website. In 1999, his book "Global Poverty, Democracy and North-South Change" was published by Garamond Press; his first book "Multinational Corporations in the Political Economy of Kenya" was published by Macmillan Press in 1981. "Skin of the Snake" is Steven Langdon's first novel, drawing on his wide experience of Africa and of the politics of working for change. Steven is married to Shirley Seward, and has two sons and two daughters. ...more

11 posts
Steven Langdon's Blog: The Write Stuff

Giller Prize 2018

I have now finished all five of the books on the Giller Prize shortlist for 2018. Overall, this is one of the best, most diverse set of selections that I can remember -- great job, Giller jury members! There is a wide range of genres, a good mix of writers (three women, two men, with differing backgrounds) and a combination of settings both abroad and in Canada.

For those of us who read our fiction Read more of this blog post »

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Published on November 16, 2018 12:41 • Tags: canadian-fiction, giller-prize-2018

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Combine Editions
Steven Langdon’s books

Average rating: 3.0 · 1 rating · 0 reviews · 10 distinct works

	Multinational Corporations in the Political Economy of Kenya liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1981 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Global Poverty, Democracy, and North South Change 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1999	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Canadian private direct investment and technology marketing in developing countries 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Skin of the Snake: A Story of Fraud and Friendship and Africa 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	African Economic Development (Routledge Textbooks in Development Economics) by Steven Langdon (Goodreads Author), Archibald R.M. Ritter, Yiagadeesen Samy 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Sarah-Beca Songbook 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	As We Come Marching: People, Power & Progressive Politics 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The emergence of the Canadian working class movement, 1845-1875 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Future for Economics: More Encompassing, More Institutional, More Practical by John Chant (contributor), Don McFetridge (Contributor), Ehsan Choudhri (Contributor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In the Public Interest: The Value of Public Services by Judy Rebick (Goodreads Author), Rosemary Warskett (Editor), Steven Langdon (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Steven Langdon rated a book really liked it Death at the Sign of the Rook (Jackson Brodie, #6) by Kate Atkinson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a remarkable novel, full of eccentric characters with a complex plot. If you can follow that plot, you deserve a prize! But the characters are compelling and the interplay amongst them makes for a fascinating read. Very much worth reading but s ...more
Jun 01, 2025 08:40AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Precipice by Robert Harris (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is yet another gripping novel from this author, who also wrote Conclave. Set at the start of World war one, it traces the dramatic love affair between a 26 year old Venetia Stanley and British prime minister Herbert Asquith. Most remarkable the h ...more
Apr 05, 2025 02:02PM · like · see review
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Jennie's Boy: A Newfoundland Childhood by Wayne Johnston	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a riveting memoir of the author’s childhood, full of vivid characters and a family history of poverty and interpersonal conflict and affection. At the core is the ongoing illness of the author when he was young, with constant coughing that kep ...more
Mar 17, 2025 11:55AM · like · see review
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a very fine novel focusing on a couple from Cameroon trying to make their way to a secure future in the United States. Jende and Neni find what seems at first good fortune with a job with a senior executive of Lehman’s. The book then follows t ...more
Mar 12, 2025 07:53AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #19) by Louise Penny (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Armand Gamache has dealt with many diverse cases in this excellent series. But this is one of the most harrowing and disturbing on many different levels. Environmental threats are at the heart of the novel but they are tied to political corruption and ...more
Feb 09, 2025 03:50PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Camino Ghosts (Camino Island, #3) by John Grisham (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As with most of John Grisham’s novels this is an excellent book, with compelling characters, a tense plot and fine storytelling that keeps you engaged and interested. He has written several novels that are set in the Camino islands off of the coast o ...more
Oct 21, 2024 09:29PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Camino Ghosts by John Grisham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Camino Ghosts by John Grisham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing The Exchange (The Firm, #2) by John Grisham (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a fine sequel to The Firm. It takes Mitch to Rome and to Libya in a grim set of steps and then switches to a focus on Abby that takes her to Morocco in an action packed follow up to what Mitch was doing in Libya. It’s an unexpected and tense ...more
Aug 13, 2024 04:06PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Exchange by John Grisham. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Exchange by John Grisham <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing The Running Grave (Cormoran Strike, #7) by Robert Galbraith	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Definitely one of the best of the series so far. Focuses on a religious cult and features fascinating characters with a deft plot with Robin going under cover in tense and powerful scenes
Aug 03, 2024 03:08PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Denison Avenue by Christina Wong	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a beautiful but sad book about an older Chinese woman living in the heart of Toronto’s downtown Chinatown district. Her husband is killed by a hit and run car and she must bravely adjust to life on her own. The book is full of touching scenes ...more
Jun 03, 2024 12:37PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Denison Avenue by Christina Wong. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Denison Avenue by Christina Wong <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Steven Langdon rated a book it was amazing Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a heartbreaking story of seven year old Jacob Beer who survives the murder of his entire family by the Germans in Poland, then buries himself in an archaeological site until he is rescued by a Greek archaeologist named Athos who smuggles him ...more
May 21, 2024 03:39PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">