Layton, Irving

Layton, Irving
▪ 2007
Israel Pincu Lazarovici 
      Romanian-born Canadian poet (b. March 12, 1912, Tirgu Neamt, Rom.—d. Jan. 4, 2006, Montreal, Que.), treated the Jewish Canadian experience with rebellious vigour in verse that could be satiric, acerbic, belligerent, or erotic. Layton's family immigrated to Canada in 1913. He attended Macdonald College, Sainte-Anne de Bellevue, Que. (B.Sc., 1939), and McGill University, Montreal (M.A., 1946). After serving in the Canadian air force during World War II, he taught (1945–60) in Montreal and later was professor of literature (1970–78) at York University, Toronto. Layton's poems, lyrical and romantic in tone and classical in form, developed from the early descriptive poetry collected in Here and Now (1945) and Now Is the Place (1948) into the tough and denunciatory expressions of his hatred of the bourgeoisie and all other enemies of spontaneity contained in In the Midst of My Fever (1954) and The Cold Green Element (1955). Often controversial, he believed that poets should “disturb and discomfort” readers. He later turned from social satire to concern for the universal human condition in such works as A Red Carpet for the Sun (1959), The Swinging Flesh (1961), Balls for a One-Armed Juggler (1963), For My Brother Jesus (1976), For My Neighbours in Hell (1980), and Europe and Other Bad News (1981). Layton's Collected Poems (1965) was revised in 1971. He also published volumes of prose containing assortments of essays, stories, and letters, including Engagements (1972) and Taking Sides (1978).

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▪ Canadian poet
original name  Irving Peter Lazarovitch 
born March 12, 1912, Tîrgu Neamț, Romania
died January 4, 2006, Montreal, Canada

      Romanian-born poet, who treated the Jewish Canadian experience with rebellious vigour.

      Layton's family immigrated to Canada in 1913. He attended Macdonald College (B.Sc., 1939) and McGill University (M.A., 1946). After serving in the Canadian Air Force during World War II, he worked as a teacher and lecturer in Montreal from 1945 to 1960 and later was professor of literature (1970–78) at York University in Toronto.

      Layton's poems, lyrical and romantic in tone and classical in form, developed from the early descriptive poetry collected in Here and Now (1945) and Now Is the Place (1948) into the tough and denunciatory expressions of his hatred of the bourgeoisie and all other enemies of spontaneity contained in In the Midst of My Fever (1954) and The Cold Green Element (1955). Often controversial, he believed that poets should “disturb and discomfort” readers. He later turned from social satire to concern for the universal human condition—e.g., A Red Carpet for the Sun (1959), The Swinging Flesh (1961), Balls for a One-Armed Juggler (1963), For My Brother Jesus (1976), For My Neighbours in Hell (1980), and Europe and Other Bad News (1981). Collected Poems (1965) was revised in 1971. He also published volumes of prose containing assortments of essays, stories, and letters, including Engagements (1972) and Taking Sides (1978).

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  • LAYTON, IRVING — (Israel Lazarovitch; 1914– ), Canadian poet. Layton was born in Romania and brought to Montreal, Canada, on his first birthday. His parents, Keine Wolfsohn and Moishe Lazarovitch, were traditional Jews who settled in the Yiddish speaking enclave… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Layton, Irving — (b. 1912)    Canadian poet. Layton was born in Romania, but his family moved to Montreal when he was a baby. He served in the Canadian Army during World War II and subsequently taught at York University, Toronto. He is the author of more than… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Layton, Irving — (b. 1912)    Canadian poet. He was bom in Romania, and was taken to Montreal as a child. He later worked in a library and taught in Jewish parochial schools. In some of his poetry he used biblical imagery to illustrate contemporary issues …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Irving Layton — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Layton. Irving Layton (né le 12 mars 1912 et décédé le 4 janvier 2006), est poète canadien. Le 12 mars 1912, naquit Israël Pincu Lazarovitch à Târgu Neamţ une petite ville de Roumanie, de parents juifs Moses et… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Irving Layton — OC (March 12, 1912 ndash; January 4, 2006) was a Canadian poet. He was known for his tell it like it is style which won him a wide following but also made enemies. As T. Jacobs notes in his biography (2001), Layton fought Puritanism throughout… …   Wikipedia

  • Layton — is a surname derived from various place names in England. Two known etymologies stem from place names in Lancashire (near Blackpool) and another in north Yorkshire. The former was named in Old English as ‘settlement by the watercourse’, from Old… …   Wikipedia

  • Layton — ist der Name mehrerer Personen Billy Jim Layton (1924–2004), US amerikanischer Komponist Bob Layton (* 1953), US amerikanischer Comiczeichner Caleb R. Layton (1851–1930), US amerikanischer Politiker Fernando C. Layton (1847–1926), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Irving Layton — (* 12. März 1912 in Târgu Neamț, Rumänien; † 4. Januar 2006 in Montréal; eigentlich Israel Pincu Lazarovici) war ein aus Rumänien stammender kanadischer Dichter und Autor. Weblinks Artikel Irving Layton in der Canadian Encyclopedia: englisch,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Layton Cemetery — Layton Cemetery, Blackpool is a graveyard located at Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY3 7BB. It was opened in 1873 when Blackpool parish church was replete with burying. The site encompasses 30 acres, having being regularly expanded during its history.… …   Wikipedia

  • Irving Crane — (November 13, 1913 ndash; November 17, 2001),The New York Times Company (2001). Obituaries section: [http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/obituaries/25CRAN.html? Irving Crane, a World Champion Who Brought Decorum to Billiards, Dies at 88] by Douglas …   Wikipedia

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