Waiting for the Messiah: A Memoir

Don Precosky teaches English at the College of New Caledonia and is the
co-editor of Four Realities: Poets of Northern B.C.

Waiting for the Messiah is the spiritual biography of the young Irving Layton. It takes us from his earliest childhood memories up to the first days of his career as a poet in the 1940s. Those of you who have come to picture Layton as an acerbic, hypertense mauler will be surprised by the relatively controlled tone of his voice. He does vent some spleen but it is mainly reserved for groups (such as the young swine who harassed him at Macdonald College) rather than for individuals. The one individual he does center out for criticism is Irving Layton. He frankly admits to flaws, errors in judgment, even insensitivity.

Because it is a spiritual autobiography, Waiting for the Messiah is relatively light on facts, dates, and numbers. It is also not a promising hunting ground for scandal mongers. He doesn’t indulge himself in literary backbiting or gossip about the famous.

The last 30 pages, when he begins working with other poets and becomes involved in Preview/First Statement affairs, are particularly absorbing. He manages to get across his own sense of youthful excitement and optimism very effectively. The ending is masterful. He leaves us standing at the door of his apartment as he is about to bring his wife Betty some important news. I hope there will be another volume. I want to find out what happens next.