Margaret Laurence

Jean Margaret Laurence, born in Neepawa, Manitoba, in 1926, became a celebrated Canadian novelist and short story writer. Her early life was marked by the loss of her mother and father, leading to her upbringing by her aunt and stepmother. Laurence's education at United College in Winnipeg fostered her deep interest in literature and writing. During her college years, she became involved with the Social Gospel movement, a Christian socialist ideology that significantly influenced her worldview and remained important throughout her life. After graduating with a degree in English Literature, she worked as a journalist before marrying and moving abroad with her engineer husband. Her experiences in British Somaliland and the Gold Coast profoundly shaped her writing, leading to works that examined colonial contexts and African culture. Upon returning to Canada, she settled in Ontario and continued to produce acclaimed novels, many set in the fictional town of Manawaka. Laurence was also a co-founder of the Writers' Trust of Canada. She passed away in 1987, having been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Born Jean Margaret Wemyss in Neepawa, Manitoba, Margaret Laurence's childhood was shaped by early loss, with her mother passing when she was four and her father dying when she was nine. She was raised by her aunt and later her stepmother. Laurence attended United College in Winnipeg, where her passion for English literature flourished. During this period, she published poetry under the pseudonym 'Steve Lancaster' and became involved with peers who shared her literary interests. Her time at college also coincided with her association with the Social Gospel movement, a Christian socialist philosophy that left a lasting impression on her.

Following her graduation, Laurence worked in journalism before marrying Jack Fergus Laurence. Her husband's career took them to Africa, including British Somaliland and the Gold Coast, from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. These experiences were pivotal, fostering a deep appreciation for African cultures and oral traditions, which she began to record and translate. Her early novels were influenced by her position as a minority in colonial settings, often featuring Christian symbolism and ethical considerations. Her time in Africa provided rich material for her memoir 'The Prophet's Camel Bell' and informed her fictional works.

Upon returning to Canada, Laurence eventually settled in Ontario. It was during this period that she wrote many of her most celebrated novels, including 'The Stone Angel' (1964), set in the fictional Manitoba town of Manawaka, which became a recurring locale in her fiction. This novel, narrated by an elderly woman reflecting on her life, became widely read. Laurence continued to explore themes of identity, community, and the challenges faced by women within the fictional Manawaka setting. Her literary contributions cemented her status as a key figure in Canadian literature, earning her prestigious awards like the Governor General's Award.

In addition to her writing, Laurence was actively involved in supporting the literary community, co-founding the Writers' Trust of Canada. She also served as Chancellor of Trent University. Her later years were marked by a diagnosis of lung cancer. Tragically, she died by suicide in 1987. Laurence's literary papers are preserved in university archives, and her influence is recognized through various honors, including her designation as a National Historic Person and the establishment of the Margaret Laurence Memorial Lecture. Her childhood home in Neepawa has been preserved as a museum.