A Short Bio of Irving Layton

Name: Irving Peter Layton

Birth Name: Israel Lazarovitch

Date of Birth: March 12, 1912

Place of Birth: Tirgu Neamt, Romania. Layton's family moved to Montreal when he was still a baby.

Writing Runs in the Family: Son David is also a writer. His memoir of growing, Motion Sickness (1999), is a whirlwind look at what it was like growing up with Irving Layton as a dad during the 1970s.

Genres: Layton is best known as a poet, but he is also an essayist, writer of short stories and professor. Like many Jewish writers, his heritage underscores much of his writing.

Capsule Career Summary: Layton has been an influential writer since the 1940s. His writing is extremely lively and outspoken, particulary about Judaism, love, and the dullness of the middle class. He is also a flamboyant and engaging performer of his work. As an academic, Layton has been writer-in-residence at a number of Canadian universities.

Notable Works: Fortunate Exile (1987) - His 47th book, this is a volume of poetry about Jews.
Waiting for the Messiah (1985) - The first volume of his memoirs.
For My Brother Jesus (1976)
The Shattered Plinths (1968)
A Red Carpet For the Sun (1959) - This volume of poetry won the Governor General's Award.

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