Stephen Leacock: a biography and creativity

The Canadian writer Stephen Leacock has always been a teacher, this trait is clearly visible in all his works. It effectively combined the pathos with satire and polished it with subtle irony. His work is a clear line between paradox and the absurd. Humor has always been an expression of human kindness and progress.

Early years

Born Stephen Leacock December 30, 1869, in England, the third of eleven children of Peter Leacock and Emma Butler. The family moved around a lot and in 1876 emigrated to Canada. They settled on a farm in Sutton, Ontario. It was a difficult time - with hard work and harsh winters.

Their farm was unsuccessful, kept afloat only due to the grandfather sent the money. Father was slowly sawn in two years, leaving a large family, went with his brother in Manitoba.

Education and youth

Steven's grandfather was sent to an elite private school in Toronto, where he became the best student. In 1887, a young man graduated and came home to find that his father has returned from Manitoba. Soon the parent again left the family, this time forever. In 1887 Leacock enrolled at the University of Toronto where he studied the first year of the scholarship. But due to financial difficulties in the second year Steven was unable to begin classes.

Leacock left the University to complete the course at Strathroy Collegiate Institute and engage in the teaching profession, which he loved. In 1891 Stephen earned enough money for distance learning, which resumed at the University of Toronto. Graduated with a bachelor of arts. It was during this period began to write for the student newspaper The Varsity. In the next few years he published more than thirty humorous stories in various American and canadian journals.

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Career and debut writer

In 1899 he continued his studies at the University of Chicago, where he received his doctorate in the field of political economy. Moved from Chicago to Montreal, he became Professor of political economy and chair of the Department of Economics and political science at McGill University. In 1903 he defended his thesis The Doctrine of Laissez-faire and received the degree of doctor of philosophy. Then made every effort to become a lecturer, but in 1908 a Professor.

“Elements of political science” is the most sold book throughout literary career of the author. Published in 1906, it became a standard textbook for the next twenty years.

Flourished

With the financial support of his brother George in 1910 he published “Literary blobs”, the first collection of comic writings, which is considered a classic in time. This is a collection of short stories by Stephen Leacock, woven with threads of wit, charm and delightful humor.

The Book was spotted by a British publisher, who published it in London and new York. Leacock has rapidly become the most popular English author. In 1911, followed by a collection of parodies, including “Crappy novels" - brilliant satirical fables with stories of ghosts, rags and riches, adventure, shipwreck, etc.

In 1912, the world saw the satirical masterpiece of the writer "Risible sketches of a small town”. The book is considered a classic of canadian humorous literature. The collection, which has become popular due to its universal appeal, was adapted in 1952 and 2012 in the TV series.

Based on the years spent in ORILLIA and childhood memories, Leacock quickly became popular in Canada, USA and England. Humorous stories of Leacock «Trip with the idle rich in rural places” was published in 1914. This is another classic canadian satire and, of course, the funniest book of the author, which brought him huge success.

Other books

The Most significant works of the author:

• 1920 - "the Unsolved riddle of social justice”;
• 1922 - "My discovery of England”;
• 1930 - “Economic prosperity in the British Empire”;
• 1935 - "Humor: his theory and technique";
• 1942 - "My remarkable uncle” and other sketches.

All written by the author belongs to the sixty-one book, two of them were published posthumously:

• 1945 - "Last page";
• 1946 - "the Boy I left behind”.

Personal life

Stephen Leacock married in August, 1900, to actress Beatrice Hamilton. In August 1915, was born their son, the boy's growth has slowed down from an early age due to the lack of the respective hormone. Although Stephen really cared about his son, the relationship has vacillated between love and hate.

In 1921, Leacock was one of the founders of the canadian authors Association. In 1925 the writer's wife died from breast cancer. Externally Leacock experienced this loss of restraint and returned to teaching, writing and public speaking. But when he could, talked about cancer and helped to raise funds to treat and research this disease.

In 1928, the success of books Leacock allowed to move to ORILLIA, where he built a house which was later converted into a Museum. In 1936, at the age of sixty-five years, Leacock retired andleft the University of McGill.

Stephen Leacock died of throat cancer in 1944. He was buried at St. George cemetery in Sutton, Ontario.

In 1946, was established “Fund of Leacock’, on behalf of which encourage canadian writers humorists. In honor of the writer named in Canada many buildings, including the McGill University. His name is given to schools in Ottawa and Toronto, the theatre in Keswick.