Literary Fiction· Canada
The Stone Angel
by Margaret LaurenceAggregate Editorial Score32/100
ALA Notable Books
Published 1964308 pagesEnglish
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The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence is a landmark work of literary fiction, first published in 1964. Ninety-year-old Hagar Shipley, facing death, recalls a life of fierce pride, failed love, and the pride that isolated her from those she loved. Laurence's masterpiece is the supreme portrait of old age and pride in Canadian literature. Themes of old age, pride, memory run through the work. The book has received recognition from ALA Notable Books 1964.
Book Details
About the Category
📖 Literary Fiction
Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.
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🇨🇦 Canada
This book is part of Canada's rich literary tradition.
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First published in 1964, Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel is a work of literary fiction that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with old age, pride, memory, Manitoba gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre.
Critics and institutions have consistently placed The Stone Angel among the notable works of its period. Among its recognitions: ALA Notable Books 1964. Our aggregate score of 32/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals.
What distinguishes The Stone Angel is how it handles its central concerns — old age, pride, memory, Manitoba — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it.
The Stone Angel reflects Margaret Laurence's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Canada's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.
Awards & Recognition
ALA Notable Books
notable · national
196410
Margaret Laurence is a celebrated author from Canada known for influential works of literary fiction.
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