Thomas B. Costain
Thomas B. Costain was a prominent Canadian author and editor, born in 1885 in Brantford, Ontario. He began his career as a sports reporter before progressing through various editorial roles, eventually becoming the editor of Maclean's magazine by 1915. Costain was instrumental in discovering and nurturing new literary talent at the Saturday Evening Post, including notable author John Phillips Marquand. Although he worked in publishing and film, Costain's passion for history led him to write historical romances, with his first novel published when he was fifty-seven years old.
His works, such as "The Black Rose" and "The Silver Chalice," garnered significant acclaim for their adventurous narratives and meticulous historical research. Costain dedicated substantial time to studying the cultures and events of the periods he portrayed, often conducting research for up to fifteen months. In addition to his novels, he authored a comprehensive four-volume history of England and a biography of Alexander Graham Bell. Recognized for his contributions to literature and history, Costain was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Western Ontario. He passed away on October 8, 1965, and is regarded as a key figure in historical fiction, drawing comparisons to literary giants like Sir Walter Scott and Alexander Dumas.
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Subject Terms
Thomas B. Costain
Author
- Born: May 8, 1885
- Birthplace: Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- Died: October 8, 1965
Biography
Thomas Bertram Costain was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, in 1885. He first worked as a sports reporter for the Brantford Courier. In 1908, he took a job with the Guelph Mercury, and in 1910 he held the position of trade book editor with the Maclean Publishing Company in Toronto. At this time, he married Ida Spragge. Costain rose quickly in the publishing world, becoming editor of Maclean’s magazine by 1915.
He was soon invited to Philadelphia to work for the Saturday Evening Post, where he developed a legendary reputation for discovering unknown authors and helping them achieve success. John Phillips Marquand was one of the authors whom Costain found and encouraged; Marquand wrote ninety-five stories for the Saturday Evening Post, as well as eight serialized novels. At Costain’s request, Marquand created the Chinese detective, Mr. Moto. After fourteen years at the Post, Costain became eastern story editor for Twentieth- Century Fox studios. In 1937, he founded his own magazine, American Cavalcade, but it quickly folded. In 1939, he accepted a position with Doubleday Books as an advisory editor.
Costain always had a great love of history and had written three unpublished novels while still in high school. He got his first job with the Brantford Courier because of a mystery story he had written. He had a keen sense for ferreting out good writing and helped launch many successful writing careers. However, he did not publish his first novel until he was fifty-seven years old. Responding to his fondness for history, Costain wrote historical romances, the first of which was For My Great Folly, set in seventeenth century Spain and published in 1942. His second novel, Ride With Me, portrayed Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow and was well received. His third novel, The Black Rose, put his name at the top of the best- sellers list. A swashbuckling tale of thirteenth century England and Cathay China, it was later adapted as a motion picture starring Tyrone Power. Costain’s most successful book, The Silver Chalice, a tale of early Christianity, appeared in 1952.
Costain’s novels were filled with adventure and romance, but what made them exceptional was the historical accuracy that resulted from his meticulous research. Costain studied every detail of a period—its events, its culture, its manners, and even its language. He spent as many as fifteen months researching a book. Costain was also recognized as a nonfiction writer. He wrote a four-volume series recounting the history of England and a book about Canadian history, The White and the Gold. The Chord of Steel is a biography of Alexander Graham Bell who, like Costain, had lived in Brantford, Ontario.
In recognition of Costain’s contributions to literature and Canadian history, the University of Western Ontario awarded him an honorary doctorate. Costain died on October 8, 1965. As a writer of historical fiction, he is considered a successor to Sir Walter Scott and Alexander Dumas.