The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories

by Sinclair Ross

Sinclair Ross’ 1941 novel As For Me and My House is a masterpiece of Canadian literature, a stunning evocation of the Prairies and their inhabitants during the Depression of the Thirties. With The Lamp at Noon and Other Stories , an original New Canadian Library collection, Ross reveals further dimensions of his fictional universe.

A woman’s impulsive infidelity leads to tragedy. A sudden hailstorm destroys hope. A boy learns to conquer a beautiful wild horse. A little girl dreams about a circus. Against the isolated, haunting landscapes of summer droughts and winter blizzards, the men and women of Ross’ stories grapple with fate against almost impossible odds. Marked by a legacy of pride that will not suffer defeat, Ross’ unyielding characters are cut off from their loved ones by obstinacy and defiance. Their tragedy is not that they suffer, but that they suffer alone.

The sensitivity, compassion, and subtlety with which Ross portrays human aspirations and failings remain to this day unequalled in Canadian fiction.

Genres: Short Stories, Canada, Fiction, Literature, Canadian Literature, Read For School, Classics

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Kinga]

A brilliant collection of short stories about life on the Canadian prairie at the end of the 19th/start of the 20th Century. I had previously read Sinclair Ross' short book, As for Me and My House and did not think as much of that as I did of this book. The stories are haunting and some will stay with me for some time, but he captures the thoughts and feelings and experiences of his characters with accuracy and precision. I will try and seek out more of Sinclair Ross' stories.

[Kailin]

I read this collection for the Painted Door - which i read as a teenager. it is still one of the most hauntingly amazing stories i have ever read. it quietly spells out the anger, the loneliness and the rage that the prairie can make you feel.

[Karen]

A wonderful collection of depression era stories set in the Canadian prairie.

[Dessa]

This collection has at least one good story, but the rest are variations on the dry themes of “women hate farmwork” and “the land will betray its farmers in more way than you can count”.

[Tina]

My student reading this for her Grade 10 English curriculum (BC, Canada).

I am all for reading Canadian classic lit & introducing students to Canadian authors but I think there are (there MUST BE) Canadian authors out there not writing such misogynistic garble. Also, side-eyes the teacher for including such outdated literature in the Grade 10 curriculum... When students could be reading indigenous stories....

:/

[Colin]

I guess I shouldn't expect a whole lot of happy stories from the author of As For Me and My House .... On the other hand, this is great writing. The first story and "One's a Heifer" are rather disturbing. "Cornet at Night" is probably my favourite story - and the most uplifting story of the bunch.

[Ira]

Read the "The Painted Door" from this book after hearing how another book I'm going to read (Tell It to the Trees by Anita Rau Badami) has echoes of this.

I may be reading more short stories from the book, as I did like the one I read.

[Stephanie Barber]

To me, these stories are just typical depression era stories of life on the prairies.

[Nykea]

The Painted Door stands out as the most memorable story in the anthology. Ultra Canadian and dramatic, a story of infidelity and mediocrity.

[Jeff Laughlin]

Grossly simple, I read but was not enthralled. Don't be surprised if I change my thoughts later after giving this another try, but this one noted me.

[Jill Hyson-Whitty]

Read the short story the painted door. It was thought provoking and I loved it.

[Al Shillex]

Very good. Specifically One's a Heifer, The Painted Door, and Cornet at Night.

His writing is both strikingly real and brutal while imaginative, dreamy, and colourful.

A Canlit must read.

[marcel]

I was debating between 3 and 4 for this. The two best stories were ones I'd read in high school: "The Lamp at Noon" and "The Painted Door" (the latter is absolutely heartbreaking). The rest were all sort of similar, just not quite as good. I do love these quiet, unsettling, and honestly quite depressing stories set in the rural Canadian Prairies though and as far as I know no one has captured the menacing solitude of the prairie better than Sinclair Ross. (Would love recommendations if anyone disagrees!)

[Jeffrey Greening]

Includes “The Painted Door” and “The Lamp at Noon” making this one of the great Canadian short story collections of all time. Perhaps tje subtle misogyny will put off some, but it seems like a realistic reflection of the times. The men were absent and focused wholly on their farm, and the women were just trying to survive.

[Craig Snider]

All interesting stories about hard times in the Prairies. Makes for bleak reading, and the writing style doesn't make it any easier - slightly convoluted and clunky. Nonetheless a good short read.

[Jeff Hobbs]

Read so far:

*The lamp at noon --
The outlaw --
*Cornet at night --
Not by rain alone
Circus in town
*A field of wheat --
The runaway
*The painted door --
*One's a heifer --

[Michael Hill]

Poignant insight into living in the Canadian prairies during the depression years.

[Trevor]

Beautiful writing. Life on the prairies will make you crazy.

[mars]

3.5 stars lowkey… you should see my annotations 🤞

[Emly Munt]

3.5/5 stars

Some stories hit me much harder than others. Didn't enjoy it as much as I did 'As for Me and My House' but it was still an enjoyable read overall I'd say.

[Steven]

Delightful collection of short stories that bridge a number of themes that while very similar locales, offer some endearing visual and descriptive moments.

[Ibis3]

NCL.2006-10-01