Beyond Maria Chapdelaine
Louis Hémon’s literary career, though brief, was rich and varied, and cannot be reduced solely to his famous Maria Chapdelaine . Before his stay of about twenty months in Quebec, the author had already produced significant work during his time in London from 1902 to 1911.
Initially a devotee of sports stories, of which he was one of the pioneers, he later turned to writing longer texts and short stories. Many of these depicted life in London’s working-class neighborhoods, a theme he also favored for three novels: Battling Malone, Pugilist , Collin-Maillard , and Monsieur Ripois and La Némésis , all published posthumously.
His writings reflect a marked interest in modest environments and a remarkable ability to capture the essence of different cultures. While Maria Chapdelaine remains his most famous work, these other texts reveal a versatile author, a keen observer of society, capable of adapting to diverse environments and portraying them with sensitivity and humanity. An entire body of work to discover!
Pioneer of sports stories
In 1902, Louis Hémon left France to settle in London, a decision that could be interpreted as an attempt to escape the civil servant career his father had envisioned for him.
In the British capital, he supported himself by working as a bilingual secretary for several brokers in the maritime sector, while simultaneously dedicating himself to writing.
A natural athlete, his keen interest in physical activities and literature led him to participate in the Concours de vacances , a literary short story competition organized by the Parisian sports newspaper Le Vélo . Winning first prize with his text La Rivière , it was published on January 1, 1904.
This victory not only opened the doors of the newspaper to him, where he became a regular contributor until August 7, 1905, but it also strengthened his perseverance in pursuing his literary passion.
The Sportswriter
During his stay in London (1902 to 1911), as a correspondent in London, he published 24 sports stories (which were later compiled and edited in 1982), just over 120 columns primarily focused on sports, and nearly 100 unsigned telegrams, though he claimed authorship of them in the opening of some of his columns.
These writings demonstrate Hémon’s strong interest in sports, particularly amateur sports. His vision of sport is evident in his texts: he advocates for a practice centered on pleasure and well-being rather than on honors or public recognition.
Hémon explores this philosophy in several of his writings, such as Histoire d’un athlète médiocre (Story of a Mediocre Athlete ), Jérôme , Marches d’armée (Army Marches ), Mon gymnase (My Gymnasium ), as well as in texts written during his time in Quebec. These works often reflect his personal experiences and his own relationship with sports.
This period of sports journalism constitutes an important but often overlooked part of Louis Hémon’s literary career, which is primarily renowned for his novel Maria Chapdelaine .
Une vie londonienne
Louis Hémon, after honing his skills in sports journalism, turned to writing longer formats. He first devoted himself to short stories, which were later collected in La Belle que voilà… (1923) and Nouvelles londoniennes (1991). Among these short stories, two were published during the author’s lifetime: La Peur appeared in Le Vélo on October 15, 1904, while Lizzie Blakeston was published as a serial in Le Temps from March 3 to 8, 1908.
The East End of London, a working-class neighborhood, serves as the backdrop for most of these stories. This choice reflects Hémon’s deep interest in modest and disadvantaged environments. Through these narratives, the author demonstrates his ability to capture the essence of everyday life for ordinary people, showcasing his empathy and attachment to this often-neglected social class. This theme became a constant in Hémon’s work (including Maria Chapdelaine ), illustrating his literary commitment to society’s underprivileged and those struggling to make ends meet.
In addition to his sports stories and London-based short stories, Louis Hémon devoted himself to writing three novels. These works, likely written between 1908 and 1911, were largely inspired by his experiences in the British capital. His various jobs as a representative allowed him to explore the city in depth, fueling his literary inspiration.
The three works in question—Battling Malone, pugiliste, Collin-Maillard, and Monsieur Ripois et la Némésis—reflect this immersion in London life and convey the writer’s fascination with disadvantaged social classes and the complexity of the human mind.
Despite his efforts, these works were only published posthumously. He attempted to have *Collin-Maillard* published by Le Temps, which declined, despite offering positive feedback. Bernard Grasset, then a young publisher, was interested in Monsieur Ripois et la Némésis, but ultimately declined due to a lack of financial means to launch an unknown author without some contribution from Hémon himself…
These rejections highlight the difficulties Hémon faced in gaining recognition for his talent during his lifetime, despite an intense period of creativity in London that enriched his writing and deepened his understanding of British society.
Louis Hémon in Quebec
Arriving in Quebec on October 18, 1911, Louis Hémon spent about twenty months in the province, traveling from Quebec City to Montreal, then to Lac-Saint-Jean, before heading west. Although this would be his final adventure, this brief stay profoundly marked his experience as a writer.During his time in Quebec, Hémon closely observed French Canadian society, showing particular interest in rural life and local traditions.
In addition to recounting his journey between Liverpool and Quebec, where he described his first impressions and noted similarities and differences with France, he published articles in La Presse encouraging sports participation among French Canadians.
He also continued his collaboration with L’Auto , a French sports newspaper, where he described various aspects of Quebec, such as daily life and landscapes.
His numerous articles depict, with great precision, Quebec life in the early 20th century. From the streets of the capital to the racquet clubs of Montreal, and from the lumberjacks and surveyors of Lac-Saint-Jean, they provide an interesting counterpoint to Maria Chapdelaine and reveal the curious gaze of a young foreigner in search of adventure and discovery.
The list of Louis Hémon’s works
Louis Hémon is the author of four novels as well as a number of short stories and narratives that were compiled and published posthumously.
- Maria Chapdelaine, récit du Canada français (Maria Chapdelaine, a tale of French Canada ), a novel first published as a serial in Le Temps (Paris) from January 27 to February 19, 1914, then in hundreds of editions worldwide, from 1916 to the present day.
- La Belle que voilà…,, a collection of short stories published by Bernard Grasset in 1923.
- Colin-Maillard, novel published by Bernard Grasset in 1924.
- Battling Malone, pugiliste, novel published by Bernard Grasset in 1925.
- Itinéraire, travel narrative published by Bernard Grasset in 1927.
- Monsieur Ripois et la Némésis, novel published by Bernard Grasset in 1950.
- Louis Hémon : lettres à sa famille, presentation by Nicole Deschamps, published by Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal in 1968.
- Récits sportifs, edition and presentation by Aurélien Boivin and Jean-Marc Bourgeois, published by Les Éditions du Royaume in 1982.
- Écrits sur le Québec, foreword and afterword by Chantal Bouchard, published by Boréal in 1993.
For the complete works of Louis Hémon, consult *Oeuvres complètes*, a three-volume edition prepared and presented by Aurélien Boivin, published by Guérin Littérature from 1990 to 1995.
