The hallmark of good
humor is that it does not age with the passage of time. Stephen Leacock’s wit is as refreshing
today as the time when his work was published (at the beginning of the twentieth century). His exuberant spirit is alive even today.
Literary Lapses was his first book of humor. Leacock is at his best when he is talking about everyday occurrences in life, whether it is his financial career, how to avoid getting married, aristocratic education, hints to travellers or an encounter with a policeman. The perspective that he brings to the situation is unique. It is rooted in reality, yet it is far removed from it. This incongruity between appearance and actuality is a characteristic feature of his humor. It is absurd in parts, it has elements of satire in it, but the
author’s innate humanity is never far beneath the surface. At times one is reminded of P.G. Wodehouse, but one would rate Leacock higher because he is not afraid to experiment with the genre.
Nonsense Novels consists of ten
short stories with mock serious titles such as “Maddened by Mystery : or, The Defective Detective” and “The Man in Asbestos : An allegory of the Future”. For the Leacock fan, his short stories are an ideal companion to his essays. It is
difficult not to like Leacock, it is even more difficult not to appreciate his skill, for he is a master of his art.
Stephen Leacock studied modern and classical languages, as well as literature, in University. He gained both recognition and popularity during his life. The author disarmingly admits that he ought to have known better, and that there are worthier pursuits to be followed! But he feels that his efforts would be fully rewarded if he were able to dispel some of the sadness in our lives, or to bring some cheer to a soul in distress.
Among his other works, Leacock wrote two biographies on Mark Twain and Charles Dickens, as well as an autobiography (“The Boy I left Behind Me”). But it is for his humor that he will be remembered, above all.
More reviews about the Literary Lapses and Nonsense Novels