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JOHN RAYMOND KNISTER
Canadian Author and Journalist. He was a novelist, short story writer, poet, critic and journalist who died in a swimming accident on Lake St. Clair at age 33. The son of Robert and Elizabeth (nee Banks), Knister is considered to be one of the first modern writers in Canada, both in his Imagist poetry and in his experimental techniques of his short stories and novels. Born at Ruscomb, Ontario, near Windsor, Raymond attended the University of Toronto and Iowa State University. Raymond married Myrtle Gamble (1901-1995) on June 18, 1927; they had one child, Imogen, who is now Imogen Givens. Some years after Raymond's death, Myrtle remarried becoming Myrtle Grace. Knister's life was short but he wrote and left behind a great deal of material. He was a professional writer, so he had to write full time to survive. "White Narcissus," a novel, and "Canadian Short Stories," a collection of short stories he edited were published during his lifetime. "My Star Predominant", a biography of John Keats, won first prize of $2,500.00 in a cross-Canada novel contest in 1931. It was published posthumously in 1934 in England and in Canada. He was a friend and contemporary of Morley Callaghan, Leo Kennedy, A. J. M. Smith and many others of the 1920's and 1930's. Knister lived first in Essex and Kent Counties in Ontario at Comber, Cedar Springs and Northwood, and later in Iowa City, Chicago, Toronto, Port Dover and the last year of his life was spent in Montreal. His grave is at Port Dover. He is the 23rd most anthologized Canadian writer, ahead of Emily Carr and Robertson Davies. Although Knister's life was brief, he left behind a legacy of writing still being read today. - bio by Clarence Morris
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Rainham Builders
1899 - 1932 (33 years)