Feast of Stephen
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Book Overview
"Do you know the characteristic wine of Madeira?…I do not know whether Leacock ever drank Madeira himself he was very much a Scotch-whisky man but I enjoy Madeira greatly, and I never drink it without thinking of Leacock, who was sometimes dry, sometimes sweet, but who always leaves upon the tongue a hint of brimstone…" In his witty and illuminating introduction, which takes up the first third of the book, Robertson Davies invites us to join him in aFeast of Stephen.Davies' selection of fifteen pieces from Leacock's less familiar works presents the humorist as a true, broad, and sympathetic interpreter of Canadian life, as a man who may have lacked self-knowledge and sensitive insight into the feelings of others, but "whose best work was the outpouring of genius." All shades of Leacock's writing are represented here, from the "brilliant nonsense which made some critics liken him to Lewis Carroll," to his occasional attacks of "aggressive Lowbrowism." Together in all their diversity, Davies' selections pay tribute to the gifts of exuberance, originality, and slightly malicious truth with which Leacock so entertainingly extends our vision.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0771025777
ISBN13:9780771025778
Release Date:September 1990
Publisher:McClelland & Stewart
Length:154 Pages
Weight:0.35 lbs.
Dimensions:0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Leaving Me Hungry for More!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Stephen Leacock is one of my favorite humorists - perhaps somewhat obscure these days, but as sharp and as witty as ever. Think of him as a precursor to Garison Keillor and you can't go too far wrong. This book is slender, too slender for my tastes, and I do not regard it as a feast, more like a selection of hors d'oeuvres. The introduction by Robertson Davies is not, as one might expect, a fawning admiration of Leacock, but serves him up, warts and all, on a platter. Positive but with qualifications.The selections are very good, though I can think of some pieces I would have preferred, it must have been a very difficult task to limit the Leacock to just these fifteen. And they are gems, each one. I thought I might quote a little here and there, but found myself unable to stop - all the review would be selections from the selections. Do yourself a favour and buy a copy if you like Leacock. Davies' introduction is worth the price alone, and the selections are a bonus, and you may then read all of the pieces I would have included in their entirety.If you don't know of Stephen Leacock, run, do not walk, to the 1-click button and give it a click. You'll be glad you did!
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