Literature and storytelling
Literature in Québec is a relatively recent art-form, dating from the first Québec publications in the mid-19th century, when a nationalist outlook mandated the depiction of a rural society based on family, land and religion. These patriotic novels include Menaud, maître-draveur (1937) by Félix-Antoine Savard, Le Survenant (1945) by Germaine Guèvremont and Trente arpents (1938) by Louis Ringuet (the pseudonym of Philippe Panneton).
The trend continued until World War II. In the post-war period, novels based on urban life became more popular. The observation-centred, realistic and anti-authority literary approach led to key works such as Les Plouffe (1948) by Roger Lemelin.
In 1960, with the advent of the Quiet Revolution, the literary world in Québec became more structured. As the “Great Darkness” came to an end, Québec writers claimed a cultural identity for themselves, and many new authors emerged. Today, around 4 000 new titles are published every year in Québec.
For more information…
(Department of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women)
(Cultural Enterprise Development Board)
(Québec Council of Arts and Letters)
