Sean Michaels wins Canadian literature award

Sean Michaels has won one of Canada's most prestigious literary awards for his novel about a musical instrument.

Michaels won the Scotiabank Giller Prize for his book "Us Conductors" yesterday. The debut novelist's book is about the Russian-born inventor of the theremin, which is an ethereal musical instrument that is played without physical contact.

The USD 88,000 Giller prize honors the best in Canadian fiction and is the richest prize for fiction in North America.

Past winners have included Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler and Alice Munro.

The Giller was created in 1994 by businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller.
 

Presenters included "Mad Men "actress Jessica Pare. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Broadcast the glitzy awards show across Canada.