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The Covenant
"With The Covenant Irving Layton takes up once more the controversial theme of his previous volume, For My Brother Jesus. Returning to the fray, he lays waste to his critics with the kind of impassioned eloquence and well-honed reason that have kept succeeding generations of readers in awe if his prodigious mind and craft. The Covenant extends Layton's earlier argument about the relationship between the Holocaust and Christianity; it is an attempt to humanize and to de-mystify Jesus Christ, and to show the difference between his true disciples and those whom Layton calls "Xians", the ones who have perverted the teachings of Christ. With prophetic fire, Layton roars forth his testimony in stanzas that ring with honesty, conviction, and truth. His genius flashes with similar intensity but contrasting mood in the many beautiful love lyrics and meditative poems that are interspersed throughout. The Covenant is a worthy successor to the long list of books that mark the progress and popularity of this major poet." -- from back cover.
- GenresPoetry
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Irving Layton
85 books40 followersPoet, Teacher.
Born as Israel Pincu Lazarovitch, author Irving Layton immigrated to Canada in 1913, as a baby, his family settling on the infamous St. Urbain Street in the city of Montreal. In the heavily French-speaking province of Quebec, some locals were weary of English foreigners and Jewish families, however, the Lazarovitches adapted to the city where a great Canadian literary scene flourished, producing several English (Canadian) authors such as Mordecai Richler, Leonard Cohen and Louis Dudek.
In the early 1930's, Irving Layton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from MacDonald College. In 1946, he received his M.A. in Political Science. He also began teaching English, History, and Political Science at the Jewish parochial high school, Herzliah, in 1949. He taught modern English and American poetry at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) and worked as a tenured professor at York University in the 1970s. He lectured occasionally at McGill University in Political Science. He taught English and Literature at the Jewish Public Library.
Irving Layton often recited his works at readings and travelled the world doing so, gaining fame and popularity. Over the course of his life, Irving Layton received many awards and honours for his writing. In 1959, Irving Layton received the Governor-General's Award for "A Red Carpet for the Sun." He was titled an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1976. In 1981, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature by Italy and South Korea. He also received the Petrarch Award for Poetry.
Well loved, Irving led a full life surrounded by students, friends and family. He was married four times - to Faye Lynch, Harriet Bernstein, Annette Pottier and Betty Sutherland. He also lived with a woman named Aviva Cantor for several years. He fathered four children during his life named Max, Naomi, David and Samantha Clara.
Born as Israel Pincu Lazarovitch, author Irving Layton immigrated to Canada in 1913, as a baby, his family settling on the infamous St. Urbain Street in the city of Montreal. In the heavily French-speaking province of Quebec, some locals were weary of English foreigners and Jewish families, however, the Lazarovitches adapted to the city where a great Canadian literary scene flourished, producing several English (Canadian) authors such as Mordecai Richler, Leonard Cohen and Louis Dudek.
In the early 1930's, Irving Layton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from MacDonald College. In 1946, he received his M.A. in Political Science. He also began teaching English, History, and Political Science at the Jewish parochial high school, Herzliah, in 1949. He taught modern English and American poetry at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia) and worked as a tenured professor at York University in the 1970s. He lectured occasionally at McGill University in Political Science. He taught English and Literature at the Jewish Public Library.
Irving Layton often recited his works at readings and travelled the world doing so, gaining fame and popularity. Over the course of his life, Irving Layton received many awards and honours for his writing. In 1959, Irving Layton received the Governor-General's Award for "A Red Carpet for the Sun." He was titled an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1976. In 1981, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature by Italy and South Korea. He also received the Petrarch Award for Poetry.
Well loved, Irving led a full life surrounded by students, friends and family. He was married four times - to Faye Lynch, Harriet Bernstein, Annette Pottier and Betty Sutherland. He also lived with a woman named Aviva Cantor for several years. He fathered four children during his life named Max, Naomi, David and Samantha Clara.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 23, 2021
Layton's poetry is usually engaging and this volume is no different.
I enjoyed how Layton forwards and then undermines his "macho" masculine voice in so many of the poems. His "macho" voice is bound to a variety of themes and motifs (notably the Holocaust), which creates a sense of dismay and disconcertion in the reader. It is almost as if Layton tries to make readers feel like their sense of inflated "machoism" plays into history's suffering: while "machoism" may seem like a shield against suffering at first, it is actually its catalyst.
Overall this was a solid book of poetry that was not too long, worthy of analysis, and memorable.
I enjoyed how Layton forwards and then undermines his "macho" masculine voice in so many of the poems. His "macho" voice is bound to a variety of themes and motifs (notably the Holocaust), which creates a sense of dismay and disconcertion in the reader. It is almost as if Layton tries to make readers feel like their sense of inflated "machoism" plays into history's suffering: while "machoism" may seem like a shield against suffering at first, it is actually its catalyst.
Overall this was a solid book of poetry that was not too long, worthy of analysis, and memorable.
Displaying 1 of 1 review