Member-only story

Margaret Laurence: The Making of a Writer

Chase Simmons

·9.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Donez Xiques

5 min read · 2 weeks before

620 View Claps

88 Respond

Save

Listen

Margaret Laurence: The Making of a Writer

by Donez Xiques

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2476 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	408 pages

Margaret Laurence was one of Canada's most celebrated writers. Her novels and short stories explored the lives of women in rural Canada, and her work was often praised for its honesty and realism. This article looks at her early life and career and how her personal experiences shaped her writing.

Early Life and Education

Margaret Laurence was born in Neepawa, Manitoba, in 1926. Her father was a Presbyterian minister, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Laurence grew up in a small town, and her early experiences there would later form the basis for many of her stories.

Laurence attended the University of Manitoba, where she studied English and philosophy. After graduating, she worked as a journalist and a teacher. In 1950, she married Jack Laurence, a fellow writer. The couple moved to England, where Laurence began her writing career.

Writing Career

Laurence's first novel, This Side Jordan, was published in 1960. The novel tells the story of a young woman who leaves her small town to attend university. This Side Jordan was a critical and commercial success, and it established Laurence as a major literary figure.

Over the next two decades, Laurence published several more novels and short story collections. Her work was often praised for its honesty, realism, and psychological depth. Laurence's characters are often complex and flawed, and her stories explore the challenges of life in rural Canada.

Some of Laurence's most famous works include:

The Stone Angel (1964)
A Jest of God (1966)
The Diviners (1974)
The Fire-Dwellers (1980)
The Rebel Angels (1981)

Personal Experiences

Laurence's personal experiences had a profound impact on her writing. She grew up in a small town, and she witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by women. Her father's strict religious beliefs also influenced her work. Laurence's writing is often infused with a sense of alienation and loneliness.

In addition to her personal experiences, Laurence was also influenced by the work of other writers. She was a great admirer of Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, and William Faulkner. Laurence's writing shares some of the same themes as these authors, such as the importance of family, the search for identity, and the challenges of life in a modern world.

Legacy

Margaret Laurence died in 1987 at the age of 60. She is considered one of the most important Canadian writers of the 20th century. Her work continues to be read and enjoyed by readers around the world.

Laurence's writing has been praised for its honesty, realism, and psychological depth. She is considered one of the most important voices in Canadian literature.

Margaret Laurence was a gifted writer who explored the lives of women in rural Canada. Her work is often praised for its honesty, realism, and psychological depth. Laurence's personal experiences had a profound impact on her writing, and her work continues to be read and enjoyed by readers around the world.

Margaret Laurence: The Making of a Writer

by Donez Xiques

5 out of 5