Thomas B. Costain: Brantford's Bestselling Novelist

📖 7 min read

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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