Munro’s Books co-founder and famous author passes

Internationally renowned author Alice Munro died yesterday. She was 92.

The Canadian icon married Jim Munro in 1951 and the couple opened Munro’s Books in 1963 on Yates Street. The store moved to its current neo-classical building on Government Street in 1984.

Alice and Jim divorced in the 1970s, and Jim passed away in 2016, after helping transform Munro’s Books into a landmark Victoria business that is treasured by locals and visitors alike.

Although Alice never worked at the store’s current location, it has been a place of pilgrimage for her fans. The store currently has a display in her honour to commemorate her passing.

Alice won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013 and was renowned for her mastery of the short story genre.

The Greater Victoria Public Library has also released a reading list titled Remembering Alice Munro.

Munro’s Books: Celebrating Alice Munro