Jean Narrache
Jean Narrache was a notable Canadian poet and pharmacist born in Montreal in 1893. Orphaned early in life, he was adopted and pursued his education at the Séminaire de Nicolet, where he excelled and published a student newspaper. After graduating in 1912, he returned to Montreal to engage with the Ecole Littéraire de Montréal, which sparked his interest in poetry. Narrache studied pharmacy at the Université de Montréal and became a licensed pharmacist in 1921, the same year he married Marie-Rose Tassé. However, he shifted his career focus in 1924 to become a distributor for a paint company. Despite his commercial endeavors, he continued to write poetry, contributing to various literary publications. His literary contributions earned him recognition, including a silver medal from the Société des Poètes Canadiens-Français in 1933. Over his lifetime, he published seven books, including the acclaimed poetry collection "Quand j'parl' tout seul" and a novel titled "Jean Narrache chez le diable," showcasing his versatility as a writer. Narrache served as secretary for the Collège des Pharmaciens de la Province du Québec for eighteen years, reflecting his commitment to both his professional and literary pursuits.
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Jean Narrache
Poet
- Born: June 10, 1893
- Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Died: April 6, 1970
Biography
Jean Narrache was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1893. He was orphaned as a young child and was later adopted by a man who sent him to the Séminaire de Nicolet to study. Narrache flourished in this academic setting and published a weekly student newspaper. He graduated in 1912 and returned to his birthplace, where he briefly belonged to the Ecole Littéraire de Montréal. His membership led him to try his hand at poetry. At this time Narrache also began attending the Université de Montréal, where he studied pharmacy. He became a licensed pharmacist in 1921. That same year, he married Marie-Rose Tassé.
Narrache’s interests veered from the realm of pharmacy in 1924, when he became a distributor and promoter for a paint company. Throughout his work in pharmaceuticals and the paint industry, Narrache published poetry in such publications as the Revue moderne and the Grande revue. In 1933, Narrache received a silver medal from the Société des Poètes Canadiens-Français in recognition of his poetry.
In 1943, Narrache became the secretary for the Collège des Pharmaciens de la Province du Québec, a position he held for eighteen years. Narrache published seven books during his lifetime, including the highly praised volume of poetry Quand j’parl’ tout seul (1933), a book about Canadian history entitled Histoires du Canada. . . vies ramanchées, and the novel Jean Narrache chez le diable, in which the main character descends into the underworld.