Stephen Leacock

Born in England in 1869 and raised in Canada from childhood, Stephen Leacock became one of the most widely read humorists in the English-speaking world in the early 20th century. He studied at the University of Toronto, later earned a doctorate in political economy at the University of Chicago, and went on to teach at McGill University for many years.

Leacock wrote dozens of books, but he remains especially loved for Literary Lapses, Nonsense Novels, and Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town. His comic writing is friendly, observant, and slyly satirical, often turning ordinary habits and social manners into something delightfully absurd.

Alongside his literary success, he built a serious career as a lecturer and scholar in economics and political science. That mix of learning and playfulness helped make his work distinctive, and it still gives his humor a voice that feels both clever and approachable.