It is a prestigious honour, given to encourage canadian humour writing and awarded for the best in canadian humour writing. The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour usually the stephen leacock medal for humour, or just the stephen leacock award is an annual literary award presented to the best work of humorous literature in english by a canadian writer. Stephen leacock is still often regarded as a writer of lightweight amusements and unchallenging satire, as an author without an imaginative centre who lacked a vision of sufficient power and clarity to sustain a lifetime of serious writing. Stephen leacock associates has cancelled this years stephen leacock memorial award for humour gala dinner. Stephen leacock was the englishspeaking worlds bestknown humorist between 1915 and 1925. This years stephen leacock medal for humour to be feted at 2021 gala the canadian press published monday, march 30, 2020 2. Jennifer craig wins 2018 stephen leacock memorial medal for. Stephen leacock associates cancels 2020 award gala dinner.
The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour, also known as the stephen leacock medal for humour or just the leacock medal, is an annual literary award presented for the best book of humour written in english by a canadian writer, published or selfpublished in the previous year. All available years of stephen leacock medal for humour titles. This report by the canadian press was first published march 30, 2020. Literary lapses kindle edition by leacock, stephen. The medal is usually presented at the gala dinner held in orillia, ont. The family, eventually to consist of eleven children, immigrated to canada in 1876, settling on a one hundredacre farm in sutton, ontario. Stephen leacock associates stephen leacock associates awards the stephen leacock memorial medal for humour to the author of the best book of humour each year. His father, peter leacock, and his mother, agnes emma butler leacock, were both from welltodo families.
Starting off from humble beginnings as a writer in magazines, he went on to publish novels which became popular. My idea was to draw out six dollars of it for present use. Stephen leacock, one of canadas leading humor writers, was born in england in 1869. Organizers say this years competition for the student humorous. Mark leirenyoung wins 2009 stephen leacock medal for humour. In 1969, the centennial of his birth, canada post issued a six cent stamp with his image on it.
The story was written from the first site the narrator told about his unsuccessful experiment of visiting a bank office. It is only fair that at the back of this book i should be allowed a few pages to myself to put down some things that i really think. Awardwinning canadian humorist and writer stephen leacock 18691944 was the author of more than 50 literary works, and between 1915 and 1925 was the most popular humorist in the englishspeaking world. Leacocks stories are masqueraded with humor and mainly revolve around himself and his lifeevents. Mar 30, 2020 this years stephen leacock medal for humour to be feted at 2021 gala the canadian press published monday, march 30, 2020 2. The people in the bank had the impression that i was an invalid millionaire. Someone gave me a chequebook through a wicket and someone else began telling me how to write it out. Leacock gala cancelled, but coveted award is still up for.
Visit the stephen leacock medal for humour website available years. Dec 19, 2006 stephen leacock was a canadian author who wrote his works with an optimistic yet realistic view of life. In 1947, the stephen leacock award was created to recognize the best in canadian literary humour. This years stephen leacock medal for humour to be feted. The short story my financial career by stephen leacock is written in a humorous style, in the style of ohenry i would say. Stephen leacock was a canadian author who wrote his works with an optimistic yet realistic view of life.
Organizers say this years competition for the student humorous essay award has been called off because the pandemic has disrupted the school year. Stephen butler leacock december 1869 march 1944 was born in england and moved to canada when he was six years old. Leacock gala cancelled, but coveted award still up for. He became a canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist.
The stephen leacock medal for humour has been awarded yearly since 1947 for the best humorous book by a canadian author. Mitchell, mordecai richler and robertson davies have all been recipients of the award over the past six decades. He was a polyglot having proficiency in english, french and german. The stephen leacock medal for humour has been awarded since 1947 to recognized the best in canadian literary humour. Stephen leacock author awardwinning canadian humorist and writer stephen leacock 18691944 was the author of more than 50 literary works, and between 1915 and 1925 was the most popular humorist in the englishspeaking world. Leacock medal award page stephen leacock associates. Named after famed canadian humorist stephen leacock, the prize is awarded annually for the best book in canadian literary humour.
The stephen leacock medal for humour has been awarded since 1947 to recognized the best in canadian literary. Literature network stephen leacock further foolishness ch. Though not as reknowned in modern times, during the early 1900s, leacock was the most famous humorist writing in the english language. Luckily, canadas writers tickle a variety of funnybones, and their best recent works are represented on the 2008 shortlist for the leacock memorial medal for humour. This years stephen leacock medal for humour to be feted at. Entry deadline for the 2021 leacock medal for humour. Each short story was unique and had truetolife situations and entertaining characters to whom readers of all ages can relate. In 1958, the stephen leacock memorial home on old brewery bay was opened to the public and declared a national monument in 1968. Ten finalists for leacock medal for humour revealed orilliamatters. The stephen leacock medal for humour has been awarded since 1947 as a means to honour the dean of canadian humourists and to perpetuate humorous writing in canada. The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour will be awarded this summer, but the winner will have to wait a year to celebrate with. Stephen leacock biography childhood, life achievements. In the early part of the 20th century he was the bestknown humorist in the englishspeaking world.
The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour is awarded annually for the best book of humour written in the previous year by a canadian. Each short story was unique and had truetolife situations and entertaining characters to. Awarded annually by the leacock association, the stephen leacock memorial medal recognizes the most humorous book published in canada, by a canadian, in the previous year. Stephen leacock memorial medal for humour shortlist book. At one point, it was said that more people had heard of stephen leacock than canada. The awful fate of melpomenus jones by stephen leacock. The following year, the stephen leacock centennial committee had a plaque erected at his english birthplace and a mountain in the yukon was named after him. The stephen leacock associates have announced the long list for the prestigious literary award, now in its 70th year. Stephen leacock associates cancels 2020 award gala dinner, will. The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour, also known as the stephen leacock medal for humour or just the leacock medal, is an annual literary award presented for. The submitted titles are listed on the stephen leacock associatess website. Publishers are responsible for the expenses connected with the award dinner for their shortlisted authors.
His first humorous book, literary lapses 1910, collecting his magazine stories and articles, was selfpublished with the financial help of a brother. His lighthearted, bubbly diction impressed me all the way through the novel. Leacock gala cancelled, but coveted award still up for grabs. Stephen leacock author award winning canadian humorist and writer stephen leacock 18691944 was the author of more than 50 literary works, and between 1915 and 1925 was the most popular humorist in the englishspeaking world. Stephen butler leacock was an englishborn canadian writer, teacher, political scientist and humorist. Join facebook to connect with stephen leacock and others you may know. The annual student humorous essay award has also been cancelled while school is suspended for canadian students. The medal has been awarded annually since 1947 and is usually presented at a gala dinner in the first week of june. Award winning canadian humorist and writer stephen leacock 18691944 was the author of more than 50 literary works, and between 1915 and 1925 was the most popular humorist in the englishspeaking world. The stephen leacock associates is a foundation chartered to preserve the literary legacy of stephen leacock, and oversee the annual award of the stephen leacock memorial medal for humour. Stephen leacock the greatest literature of all time.
He was best known for his light humor supported by skepticism and criticism of people and their errors. Stephen leacock memorial medal for humour gala weekend. While the award is generally given for books for adults, the stephen leacock associates foundation sponsors a student competition. Jun 17, 2010 stephen butler leacock, frsc, humorist, author, academic born 30 december 1869 in swanmore, england. Stephen leacock memorial medal for humour wikipedia. Leacock s fictional works include classics like sunshine sketches of a little town, arcadian adventures with the idle rich, and literary lapses. The stephen leacock memorial medal for humour will be awarded this summer, but the winner will have to wait a year to celebrate with their peers. In 1947, the stephen leacock award was created to recognize the best in canadian literary humor.