Roger Lemelin
Roger Lemelin was a notable Canadian writer born in Quebec City, Quebec, who gained prominence for his insightful explorations of Quebec society and culture. Growing up in a working-class environment, he faced challenges, including a leg injury that led him to pursue writing. His debut novel, "Au pied de la pente douce," published in 1944, garnered significant attention and accolades, including awards from the Academie Française and Prix David, while sparking debate over its critical portrayal of Quebec’s traditional values.
Lemelin's second major work, "Les Plouffe," published in 1948, was later adapted into a successful television series, further cementing his status as a key figure in Canadian literature. His versatility as a writer extended to screenwriting, as he also created works for film and explored various genres, including short stories and essays. Throughout his career, Lemelin received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to French culture and literature, such as being named a Companion of the Order of Canada. He passed away in 1992, leaving behind a legacy that reflects a keen observation of Canadian social realism, particularly regarding the clergy, family dynamics, and national identity.
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Subject Terms
Roger Lemelin
- Born: April 7, 1919
- Birthplace: Québec City, Quebec, Canada
- Died: March 16, 1992
- Place of death:
Biography
Roger Lemelin spent his childhood in the working-class district of St. Sauveur in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. He had little formal education, dropping out of the Academie Commerciale de Quebec in the eighth grade to work. He held a number of jobs, including factory worker and journalist. A leg injury in his adolescence incapacitated him for some time and led to his eventual passion for writing.
Lemelin published his first novel, Au pied de la pente douce (1944; The Town Below, 1948), while still in his mid-twenties. This work, a lively account of childhood, earned him the Academie Française and Prix David awards. It also inspired debate, as some felt Lemelin unjustly attacked the social and religious tenets of old Quebec, while others admired the writer’s unflinching examination of these subjects. A Guggenheim Fellowship allowed him to write his second novel, Les Plouffe (1948; The Plouffe Family, 1950), later adapted for radio and for a television series that aired on French and British networks in the 1950’s. Audiences who viewed the series were particularly taken by the obscure world of Quebec that was depicted in the program. Giles Carle, a well- known Canadian film director, directed a highly successful film version of Les Plouffe, released in 1981.
In addition to writing the screenplay for Les Plouffe, Lemelin also wrote the screenplay for a French-language film, L’Homme aux oiseax, about a typical Canadian family man who, upon losing his job, takes to walking about Quebec, bird-watching instead of working. A versatile writer, Lemelin published a short-story collection, Fantaisies sur les péchés capitaux; collections of his essays; and his memoirs, La Culette en or, among other works. He died in 1992, at the age of seventy-two.
A keen observer of Canadian social realism, Lemelin often focused on the clergy, the traditional Quebec family, ardent nationalism, and sexual prohibitions as subjects for examination. Lemelin received numerous awards, including Companion of the Order of Canada, honorary membership in the Union des Ecrivains Québécois, and the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur in recognition of his contribution to French life and culture. He also became a Canadian corresponding member of the Academie Goncourt.