The Loved and the Lost

Morley Callaghan broke new ground when he published The Loved and the Lost in 1951. It became the first popular Canadian novel to deal with race relations in a major city with thrilling and unforgettable prose. When Peggy sits in a bar frequented by blacks, she isn't there as a white person but as innocence in a dark world. She flaunts her love for black people, but in a manner revealing that she sees them as marginalized victims. As an ambivalent saint, she is despised, rejected and martyred. Rich language, frequent comparisons and memorable metaphors make The Loved and the Lost Callaghan's best work.