''The Influence of a Book'' (french: L'influence d'un livre) is a novel by the
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
writer
Phillipe-Ignace François Aubert du Gaspé, first published in 1837. It is considered to be the first
French Canadian
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
novel, and although the book was not well received initially, it has come to be recognized as a major landmark in
Canadian literature.
It is the tale of Charles Amand's quest for gold. Between alchemy, the courtship of his daughter Amélie, the legend of Rose Latulipe and the murder of the peddler Guilmette, there is a satirical theme aimed at spiritual poverty in Quebec.
''The Influence of a Book'', an English language translation by
Claire Rothman, was published in 1993 and won the
John Glassco Translation Prize
The John Glassco Translation Prize is an annual Canadian literary award, presented by the Literary Translators' Association of Canada to a book judged the year's best translation into either English or French of a work originally written in any l ...
in 1994.
"Author series offers a mixed bag for book lovers"
''Le Courrier de Portneuf'', October 19, 2009.
Editions
* ''Le Chercheur de trésors.'' (1864) by H. R. Casgrain
* ''L'influence d'un livre.'' (1968) by Léopold Leblanc
* ''Le chercheur de trésors ou L’influence d’un livre. roman.'' 183
online
** Transl. : ''The Influence of a Book.'' Robert Davies Publ. 1993 John Glassco Translation Award
References
External links
1837 novels
Canadian French-language novels
Novels set in Quebec
{{Canada-novel-stub