Edward Morley Callaghan, born on February 22, 1903, in Toronto, Ontario, was a prominent Canadian writer whose work continues to be celebrated. Raised in a literate middle-class family, Callaghan developed a deep appreciation for literature early on. Over his lifetime, Callaghan produced a significant body of work, including novels, short stories, and plays, earning him numerous accolades.

Early Life and Education

Morley Callaghan spent his formative years in Toronto, the second son of Thomas and Mary Callaghan. He grew up in a household where books were cherished, instilling in him a love for writing. In 1921, Callaghan began his studies at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1925. During his college years, he also started crafting his first pieces of fiction.

Beginnings of a Literary Career

Callaghan supplemented his education with summer work at the Toronto Star, where he forged a lasting friendship with Ernest Hemingway. In 1925, he pursued legal studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, completing his degree in 1928. Despite earning his law degree, Callaghan chose to dedicate himself to writing. His first novel, Strange Fugitive, was published in the same year he graduated, quickly followed by his short story collection, A Native Argosy.

Personal Life

On the personal front, 1929 marked a significant year for Callaghan as he married Loretto Florence Dee. The couple enjoyed an extended honeymoon in Paris, which lasted seven months. They went on to have two children together, balancing family life with Callaghan’s burgeoning literary career.

A Prolific Period

The early to mid-1930s proved to be exceptionally productive for Callaghan, as he penned a series of successful works. In addition to the novella No Man’s Meat in 1931, he authored five novels: It’s Never Over (1930), A Broken Journey (1932), Such Is My Beloved (1934), They Shall Inherit the Earth (1935), and More Joy in Heaven (1937). During this time, he also released another collection of short stories, Now That April’s Here and Other Stories (1936), which included the notable "All the Years of Her Life."

Exploring New Avenues

Despite his growing fame and an established writing style, Callaghan experienced a creative dry spell beginning in 1938, which led him to explore other pursuits. He ventured into playwriting, though his two plays from that year were not produced until a decade later. During this hiatus, Callaghan took on varied roles such as a sports columnist for New World Illustrated and a staff member on the CBC radio program Things To Come. He also contributed to the CBC radio quiz show Beat the Champs and crafted a screenplay for the National Film Board of Canada.

Return to Writing

In 1947, Callaghan returned to the world of fiction. His novel The Loved and the Lost (1951) was met with critical acclaim, securing the Governor General’s Award for fiction. He continued his success with the novella The Man with the Coat, which garnered the Maclean’s magazine fiction prize in 1955 and was later expanded into the novel The Many Colored Coat (1960).

Paris and Beyond

In 1958, Callaghan was commissioned to cover the death of Pope Pius XII in Rome for the Toronto Star weekly magazine. This assignment inspired his novel A Passion in Rome (1961). During this period, he also compiled his third short story collection, Morley Callaghan’s Stories (1959). In 1963, Callaghan reflected on past literary friendships with the publication of That Summer in Paris: Memories of Tangled Friendships with Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Some Others, offering insights into his interactions with notable literary figures in 1929.

Later Works and Recognition

Callaghan continued to produce noteworthy works in his later years, including A Fine and Private Place (1975), Close to the Sun Again (1977), and A Time for Judas (1983). His contributions to literature were formally recognized in 1982 when he was appointed Companion of the Order of Canada. The following year, Callaghan was honored with the Author of the Year Award by the Canadian Booksellers Association. His final novel, A Wild Old Man on the Road (1988), was published two years before his death on August 25, 1990, at the age of eighty-seven.