Who is Louis Hémon?
In 1912, Louis Hémon, a writer from the Brittany region of France, arrived on foot in Péribonka after walking approximately 110 kilometres from Roberval to Péribonka. He stayed for just over two months with Samuel Bédard, who hired him as a farmhand. During his stay, he observed the local population and took notes.
It was in January 1914 that France would first discover Maria Chapdelaine , a story of French Canada, inspired by his time in Péribonka and destined to travel around the world. However, the young Breton author would never experience the fame that awaited him. On July 13, 1913, he was struck and killed by a train in Chapleau (Ontario, Canada), about six months before the publication of his novel.
Maria Chapdelaine , A Tale of French Canada
Translated into more than thirty languages, adapted for film, radio, and comic books, it is estimated that over 20 million copies of Maria Chapdelaine , a tale of French Canada, have been sold worldwide since its first publication as a novel in 1916.
But beyond its commercial success, it is above all the authenticity of its characters that sets it apart, as well as the impressive ability of the French author to capture the essence of Québec society in the early 20th century, which was grappling with significant identity conflicts.
An undisputed classic to (re)discover!
Discover the Novel Maria Chapdelaine
The Works of Louis Hémon
Primarily known for his novel Maria Chapdelaine , a tale of French Canada, Louis Hémon nonetheless had a prolific literary career.
A pioneer of “sports narratives,” he is also the author of a multitude of short stories, various articles, and three other novels filled with controversies, which were only published long after his death.
The Louis-Hémon Museum
Had it not been for the international success of Maria Chapdelaine , a tale of French Canada, starting in the 1920s, Louis Hémon’s brief stay in Péribonka might have gone almost unnoticed.
And yet, in 1938, thanks to the efforts of countless enthusiasts of Maria Chapdelaine , who saw Louis Hémon as an extraordinary author, a museum was created in his honor.
Thus, for over 85 years, the primary mission of the Louis-Hémon Museum has been to preserve the memory of this young Breton author and to celebrate the richness of literature through his many works.