Thomas B. Costain: From Brantford Reporter to Bestselling Author
Quick Answer: Thomas Bertram Costain (1885-1965) was born in Brantford and began his career at the Brantford Courier before becoming a literary phenomenon. His historical novels, including "The Black Rose" and "The Silver Chalice," sold millions of copies worldwide. He didn't publish his first novel until age 57, showing that creative achievement can come at any stage of life with patience and persistence.
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He was 57 years old when he published his first novel. Most people would call that late. Thomas B. Costain would call it preparation.
Born and raised in Brantford, Costain spent decades in journalism before becoming one of the bestselling authors of the mid-twentieth century. His story challenges the cult of early achievement and suggests that creative breakthroughs often require long periods of quiet development.
A Brantford Beginning
Thomas Bertram Costain was born on May 8, 1885, in Brantford. His father was a carpenter, his mother a homemaker. Young Thomas showed early aptitude for writing and began his journalism career at the Brantford Courier while still a teenager.
From the Courier, he moved to newspapers in Guelph and Maclean's magazine in Toronto. In 1920, at age 35, he left Canada for the United States, eventually becoming an editor at the Saturday Evening Post, one of America's most prestigious magazines.
For more than two decades, he edited the work of others. He shaped stories, guided writers, and learned the craft of narrative at a deep level. All of this was preparation, though he may not have known it at the time.
The Incubation Period
Creative researchers describe an "incubation period" where ideas develop below conscious awareness. Sleep plays a crucial role in this process, allowing the brain to make connections and solve problems without deliberate effort. Costain's decades of journalism weren't wasted time; they were the incubation period for the novels that would follow.
Late Blooming Success
In 1942, at age 57, Costain published his first novel: "For My Great Folly." It was a historical adventure set in the 17th century.
The book did well, but his second novel made him famous. "The Black Rose" (1945) told the story of an English student's journey to China in the 13th century. It became an international bestseller and was later adapted into a film starring Tyrone Power.
More followed: "The Silver Chalice" (1952), about the cup used at the Last Supper, sold two million copies. His four-volume history of the Plantagenet dynasty became a popular introduction to medieval England.
Between 1942 and his death in 1965, Costain published more than twenty books. His novels sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Not bad for someone who started at 57.
What Brantford Gave Him
Costain rarely wrote about Brantford directly, but the city shaped him in important ways:
Work ethic: Brantford in the late 1800s was a working city. The values of steady effort, reliability, and craftsmanship surrounded young Thomas. These values showed in his disciplined writing practice.
Journalism foundation: Starting at the Brantford Courier taught him to write clearly, meet deadlines, and tell stories that engaged ordinary readers. These skills underpinned his later success.
Patience: Growing up in a smaller city perhaps taught him that achievement doesn't require metropolitan speed. His willingness to wait decades before writing fiction suggests a comfort with longer timelines.
Brantford's Other Writers
Costain joins E. Pauline Johnson in Brantford's literary heritage. The city that produced a Mohawk poet also produced a bestselling historical novelist. Both found their way to audiences far beyond the Grand River, carrying their Brantford foundations with them.
Rest and Creative Longevity
Costain wrote prolifically in his later years, but his career suggests the importance of pacing:
Preparation matters: The decades before his first novel weren't lost time. They were learning time. Sometimes the best preparation for creative work is living, working, and resting without forcing output.
Second acts exist: Our culture obsesses over early achievement. Costain reminds us that creative breakthroughs can happen at any age. The key is maintaining health and energy long enough to realize them.
Sustained output requires rest: Writing twenty books in twenty-three years while in your 60s, 70s, and 80s requires remarkable stamina. That kind of sustained creative work demands consistent rest and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Thomas B. Costain really from Brantford?
Yes. Thomas Bertram Costain was born in Brantford on May 8, 1885. He began his journalism career at the Brantford Courier before moving to other Canadian publications and eventually the United States.
What books did Thomas Costain write?
His most famous novels include "The Black Rose" (1945), "The Silver Chalice" (1952), and "The Darkness and the Dawn" (1959). He also wrote a popular four-volume history of medieval England.
How many books did Costain sell?
Costain's novels sold over 10 million copies worldwide during his lifetime. "The Silver Chalice" alone sold two million copies and was adapted into a film.
Why did Costain start writing novels so late?
Costain spent decades in journalism and editing before writing fiction. His experience at the Saturday Evening Post gave him deep knowledge of storytelling. He published his first novel at 57 but was remarkably prolific afterward.
Is there a Thomas Costain memorial in Brantford?
Costain is less commemorated locally than some other Brantford figures, but his birthplace and early career at the Brantford Courier are documented in local historical records.
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