30 Facts About Margaret Laurence

Jean Margaret Laurence was a Canadian novelist and short story writer, and is one of the major figures in Canadian literature.

Margaret Laurence was a founder of the Writers' Trust of Canada, a non-profit literary organization that seeks to encourage Canada's writing community.

Margaret Laurence was born Jean Margaret Wemyss on 18 July 1926 in Neepawa, Manitoba, the daughter of solicitor Robert Wemyss and Verna Jean Simpson.

Margaret Laurence's mother died when she was four, after which a maternal aunt, Margaret Simpson, came to take care of the family.

Margaret Laurence then moved into her maternal grandfather's home with her stepmother and brother.

In 1944, Margaret Laurence attended Winnipeg's United College, an arts and theology college associated with the University of Manitoba, that later became the University of Winnipeg.

Margaret Laurence submitted this work under the pseudonym "Steve Lancaster", in what she later credits as a reference to the Lancaster bomber, a highly powerful and successful bomber of the Second World War.

Margaret Laurence met with friends and discuss literature; those who were writers shared their works with the group.

Margaret Laurence became an associate editor of Vox, United College's literary journal, and was the publicity president of the Student Council.

Margaret Laurence showed promise and success in her early literary pursuits.

Margaret Laurence graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 1947.

Margaret Laurence's work took them to England, the then-British protectorate of British Somaliland, as well as the British colony of the Gold Coast.

Margaret Laurence developed an admiration for Africa and its various populations, which found expression in her writing.

In 1952, Margaret Laurence gave birth to daughter Jocelyn during a leave in England.

Margaret Laurence then moved to Elm Cottage where she lived for more than ten years, although she visited Canada often.

Margaret Laurence bought a cabin on the Otonabee River near Peterborough, Ontario where she wrote The Diviners during the summers of 1971 to 1973.

Margaret Laurence served as Chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough from 1981 to 1983.

In 1986, Margaret Laurence was diagnosed with lung cancer late in the disease's development.

Margaret Laurence decided the best course of action was to spare herself and her family further suffering.

Margaret Laurence committed suicide at her home at 8 Regent St, Lakefield, on January 5,1987, by taking a drug overdose, documenting her decision in writing until the time of her death.

Margaret Laurence was buried in her hometown in the Neepawa Cemetery, Neepawa, Manitoba.

One of Canada's most esteemed and beloved authors by the end of her literary career, Margaret Laurence began writing short stories in her teenage years while in Neepawa.

Margaret Laurence's first published piece "The Land of Our Father" was submitted to a competition held by the Winnipeg Free Press.

Shortly after her marriage, Margaret Laurence began to write more prolifically, as did her husband.

Each published fiction in literary periodicals while living in Africa, but Margaret Laurence continued to write and expand her range.

Margaret Laurence wrote four more works of fiction set in Manawaka.

Margaret Laurence was published by the Canadian publishing company McClelland and Stewart, and she became one of the key figures in the emerging Canadian literature tradition.

The Stone Angel, a feature-length film based on Margaret Laurence's novel, written and directed by Kari Skogland and starring Ellen Burstyn premiered in Fall 2007.

Margaret Laurence won two Governor General's Awards for her novels A Jest of God and The Diviners.

The Margaret Laurence Memorial Lecture is an annual lecture series organized by the Writers' Trust of Canada.