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Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town
By: Stephen Leacock

The fictional Ontario town of Mariposa is the setting for these short stories. Although Mariposa was based on Orillia where Leacock had a summer home, the author stated that it was very similar to a dozen other towns. It is described as a thriving town with a population between 6000-10000, depending upon who is asked. Leacock acknowledges that outsiders may find the town quiet but believes that they are not looking closely enough.

The book remains a Canadian classic today. It has been made into a radio play and a CBC movie.

Also available as:
eBook

Large Print
Talking Book (restricted to Print Disabled patrons)

About the Author

Stephen Leacock was born 1869 in Hampshire, the third of eleven children. His paren'ts Peter and Agnes made an unsuccessful attempt at farming in South Africa, coming to Canada when Stephen was 6. In Ontario, too, their farming met with limited success and they were supported financially by Peter’s father. Stephen attended Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto but financial difficulties caused him to leave school and become a teacher. Teaching at Upper Canada College allowed him to return to University of Toronto as a part-time student where he completed his degree. Later he received a doctorate in economics and political science from the University of Chicago. He joined the faculty of McGill University where he remained until his 1936 retirement.

Leacock began submitting articles to humour magazines in 1896 and supplemented his income with serious works as well. Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town was his third book published and drew comparisons to Mark Twain and Charles Dickens.