About
Antonine Maillet, born in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, is a major figure in Acadian literature. She studied literature and earned a doctorate on Rabelais. She taught at several universities and worked for Radio-Canada. Her work, which includes about fifty titles, helped elevate Acadian French to the status of a literary language. She won the Prix Goncourt in 1979 for Pélagie-la-Charrette, becoming the first Canadian and non-European laureate. She also served as chancellor of the Université de Moncton and received numerous honors.
* 1929-05-10 — † 2025-02-17
Major works
- La Sagouine (1971)play
- Don l'Orignal (1972)novel
- Mariaagélas (1973)novel
- Les Cordes-de-Bois (1977)novel
- Pélagie-la-Charrette (1979)novel
Key milestones
- 1979Wins the Prix Goncourt for Pélagie-la-Charrette, the first Canadian and first non-European to receive this prize.
- 1989Becomes the first woman chancellor of the Université de Moncton, serving until 2000.
- 2021Appointed Commander of the French Legion of Honour.
Themes
Acadian identitylanguage and oralitydeportation and exilewomen's conditionmemory and history
Sources: webarchiveweb.wayback.bac-lac.canada.ca · ville.montreal.qc.ca