Norman Levine

Albert Norman Levine was a Canadian literary figure, renowned for his work as a short story writer, novelist, and poet. Although he spent the majority of his adult life in England, his Canadian roots remained a significant part of his identity. Levine's writing style was characterized by its terseness, a deliberate choice that reflected his belief in the power of concise language.

As a member of the St. Ives artistic community in Cornwall, Levine was surrounded by influential figures, including painters Patrick Heron and Francis Bacon, with whom he formed close friendships. Despite being immersed in an environment often associated with abstract expression, Levine's own writing remained firmly grounded in concrete, descriptive prose. His approach to language was guided by a philosophy that emphasized the suggestive potential of lean, economical writing, as expressed in his 1993 essay, Sometimes It Works.