author
Peter Donovan
b. 1884
A sharp-eyed early 20th-century humorist, this Canadian writer is remembered for light, satirical sketches about everyday manners, social habits, and modern life. His best-known book, Imperfectly Proper (1920), mixes wit with affectionate social observation.
1 Audiobook
Imperfectly Proper
by Peter Donovan
About the author
Very little biographical information is easy to confirm about this author beyond the basics attached to surviving editions of his work: Peter Donovan was born in 1884, and he published Imperfectly Proper in Toronto with McClelland & Stewart in 1920.
That book is a collection of comic essays and sketches, originally presented under the byline "P. O'D.," and illustrated by R. E. Johnston. The pieces take aim at manners, fashion, travel, money, and small social absurdities, giving them an easy, conversational charm.
Because so few reliable details about Donovan's life are readily documented online, his writing ends up telling us the most about him. He comes across as a funny, observant commentator on ordinary behavior, with a style that turns everyday inconvenience into gentle satire.