Margaret Laurence Books in Order

Margaret Laurence is a celebrated Canadian novelist, short story writer, and essayist. Born Jean Margaret Wemyss on July 18, 1926, in Neepawa, Manitoba, she was raised by her aunt and maternal grandfather after her parents' passing in her childhood. Laurence's passion for writing began in elementary school, where she penned stories, a talent that blossomed into a professional career in the 1940s. She worked as a journalist at the town newspaper and later as a reporter for The Winnipeg Citizen after graduating from the University of Winnipeg's Honours English program in 1947. Her experiences in Africa, where she lived with her family in England, Somalia, and Ghana, profoundly influenced her writing. Laurence's notable works include A Tree for Poverty, a collection of essays and translations of Somali literature, and This Side Jordan, a novel exploring African subjects. Returning to Canada, her fiction focused on Canadian themes while maintaining her interest in African literature.