Irving Layton

Irving Layton

Irving Peter Layton, OC (March 12, 1912 – January 4, 2006) was a Romanian-born 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 his life:

Layton's work had provided the bolt of lightning that was needed to split open the thin skin of conservatism and complacency in the poetry scene of the preceding century, allowing modern poetry to expose previously unseen richness and depth.

Read more about Irving Layton:  Recognition, Discography

Famous quotes containing the words irving layton, irving and/or layton:

    When you argue with your inferiors,
    you convince them of only one thing:
    they are as clever as you.
    Irving Layton (b. 1912)

    A criminal trial is like a Russian novel: it starts with exasperating slowness as the characters are introduced to a jury, then there are complications in the form of minor witnesses, the protagonist finally appears and contradictions arise to produce drama, and finally as both jury and spectators grow weary and confused the pace quickens, reaching its climax in passionate final argument.
    —Clifford Irving (b. 1930)

    Since I no longer expect
    anything from mankind except
    madness,
    meanness, and mendacity;
    egotism,
    cowardice,
    and
    self-delusion,
    I have stopped
    being a
    misanthrope.
    —Irving Layton (b. 1912)