It had to be one of the swankiest Canadian book launches on record: Rosalie Wise Sharp’s memoir Rifke (ECW Press) was launched at the Four Seasons in Toronto on April 17, where Sharp’s husband, Four Seasons owner Isadore Sharp, hosted hundreds of high society folk (and a few dungaree’d publishing types). Each of the 74 Four Seasons locations also bought 50 copies of the book. (Photos by Quill & Quire.)

Rosalie Wise Sharp reads a scene from Rifke, in which as a child in Toronto she’s dispatched on the streetcar to buy a chicken.

ECW publisher Jack David.

Isadore Sharp welcomes his guests.

The scene in the Four Seasons ballroom.

Cynthia Good, director of Humber College’s book publishing program.

Stuart Ross, who edited Rifke, and whose own ECW poetry title, Hey, Crumbling Balcony!, was on sale at the event alongside Sharp’s book.

ECW publicity director Simon Ware.

ECW’s Adrienne Guthrie and Jen Hale, doing brisk business at the book table.

The Four Seasons spread included traditional Jewish dishes (such as the herring in the foreground).