20 Facts About Hugh MacLennan

John Hugh MacLennan was a Canadian writer and professor of English at McGill University.

Hugh MacLennan won five Governor General's Awards and a Royal Bank Award.

Hugh MacLennan's parents were Samuel MacLennan, a colliery physician, and Katherine MacQuarrie; Hugh had an older sister named Frances.

In December 1917, young Hugh MacLennan experienced the Halifax Explosion, which he would later write about in his first published novel, Barometer Rising.

Hugh MacLennan grew up believing in the importance of religion; he and Frances regularly went to Sunday school, and the family attended Presbyterian church services twice each Sunday.

Hugh MacLennan was active in sports, and became especially good at tennis, eventually winning the Nova Scotia men's double championship in 1927.

In late 1931, Hugh MacLennan sent some of his poetry to three publishers, including the firms of John Lane and Elkin Mathews, but it was turned down.

Hugh MacLennan spent some of his holidays lodging with a family in Germany, through which he acquired a very good proficiency in German.

Hugh MacLennan won a $400 scholarship to continue his studies at Princeton University, and despite his growing disinclination to keep studying the classics, he decided to go there.

At Princeton, Hugh MacLennan wrote his first novel, So All Their Praises.

Hugh MacLennan found one publisher who was willing to take the manuscript, as long as he made certain changes; however, this company went out of business before the book could be published.

Hugh MacLennan took a position at Lower Canada College in Montreal, Quebec, even though he felt it was beneath him, as just his Dalhousie BA would have been a sufficient qualification for the job.

Hugh MacLennan generally did not enjoy working there, and resented the long hours required of him for low pay, but was nonetheless a stimulating teacher, at least for the brighter students.

In February 1939, Hugh MacLennan's father died after suffering from high blood pressure.

For several months after his father's death Hugh MacLennan continued to write letters to him, in which he discussed his thoughts on the possibility and implications of a war in Europe.

Hugh MacLennan set out to define Canada for Canadians through a national novel.

In 1948, Hugh MacLennan published The Precipice, which again won the Governor General's Award.

In 1951, Hugh MacLennan returned to teaching, accepting a position at McGill University.

Hugh MacLennan continued to write and publish work, with his final novel Voices in Time appearing in 1980.

Hugh MacLennan died on November 9,1990, in Montreal, Quebec.