Page 201 - DENG203_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_IV

Elective English—IV

Notes audience. The Quick Man instead of enjoying the show is busy criticising the Conjurer throughout
the show. The Conjurer’s patience gets exhausted at the end and the Quick Man finds himself at
the receiving end.
In this unit we will study more about Stephen Butler Leacock and The Conjurers Revenge.

11.1 About Stephen Butler Leacock

Figure: 11.1 Stephen Butler Leacock

Source: http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2001/361/2146_1009547212.jpg
Stephen Butler Leacock, FRSC (30 December 1869 – 28 March 1944) was an English-
born Canadian teacher, writer, political scientist and humourist. In the early part of the 20th
century he was the best-known humourist in the English-speaking world. He is known for his
light humour along with criticisms of people’s stupidities and irrationalities. The Stephen Leacock
Memorial Medal for Humour was named in his honour.
The recipient of several honorary degrees, awards and distinctions (the Lorne Pierce Medal, the
Governor General’s Award, a postage stamp issued in his honour, the Leacock Medal for Humour
established in his honour), Stephen Leacock was the English-speaking world’s best-known
humourist from 1915 to 1925.

11.1.1 Early Life

Stephen Leacock was born in Swanmore, Hampshire. He was the third of eleven children born
to Walter Peter Leacock, who was born and grew up at Oak Hill on the Isle of Wight, an estate
that his grandfather had purchased after returning from Madeira where his family had made a
fortune out of plantations and Leacock’s Madeira wine, founded in 1760. Stephen’s mother,
Agnes, was born at Soberton, the youngest daughter by his second wife Caroline Linton Palmer
of the Rev. Stephen Butler, of Bury Lodge, the Butler estate that overlooked the village
of Hambledon, Hampshire. Stephen Butler for whom Leacock was named, was the maternal

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