List of Canadian women writers in French
This is a list of Canadian women writers in French who were born in Canada or whose writings in French are closely associated with that country.
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It was in the mid-19th century that French-speaking women began to contribute to Canadian literature, partly as a result of growing Quebec patriotism but also because of the influence of the Catholic church and developments in education.[1] Early contributors include the novelists Laure Conan and Gabrielle Roy[2] and the poet Blanche Lamontagne-Beauregard.[3] Women's greatest contribution has however been since the 1960s and above all since the 1980s, triggered by increased interest in feminism.[4] Some sources have pointed to significant differences between English-Canadian and French-Canadian literature, resulting in part from the protected language identity of the Province of Quebec where French-language radio and television and pop-stars reinforce its insularity.[5]
A
[edit]- Marie-Célie Agnant (born 1953), poet, novelist and children's writer
- Francine Allard (born 1949), educator, novelist, poet and visual artist
- Geneviève Amyot (1945–2000), poet and novelist
- Linda Amyot (born 1958), novelist, short story writer, children's writer
- Marguerite Andersen (1924–2022), German-born French-language poet and editor
- Maryse Andraos (born 1988), novelist
- Ginette Anfousse (born 1944), writer and illustrator of children's books
- Nelly Arcan (1973–2009), novelist
- Suzanne Aubry (born 1956), novelist, scriptwriter, playwright
- Aude, pen name of Claudette Charbonneau-Tissot (1947–2012), novelist, short story writer, children's writer
B
[edit]- Robertine Barry (1863–1910), journalist and publisher
- Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo (born 1967), Ivorian-born poet and journalist
- Estelle Beauchamp (fl. from 1995), novelist
- Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier (1932–2016), Haitian-born Canadian educator and writer
- Germaine Beaulieu (born 1949), poet and novelist
- Nicole Bélanger (born 1962), novelist and screenwriter
- Jovette Bernier (1900–1981), journalist and poet
- Louky Bersianik, pen name of Lucille Durand, (1930–2011), novelist
- Claudine Bertrand (born 1948), educator and poet
- Charlotte Biron (born 1990), novelist
- Lise Bissonnette (born 1945), writer and journalist
- Marie-Claire Blais (1939–2021), novelist, poet and playwright
- Virginie Blanchette-Doucet (born 1989), novelist
- Lise Blouin (born 1944), educator and novelist
- France Boisvert (born 1959), educator and writer
- Louise Bombardier (born 1953), actress and writer
- Monique Bosco (1927–2007), Austrian-born Canadian journalist and writer
- Mylène Bouchard (born 1978), novelist and non-fiction writer
- Lise Bourbeau (born 1941), writer of self help books
- Lysette Brochu (born 1946), novelist and short story writer
- Hélène Brodeur (1923–2010), educator, journalist and writer
- Nicole Brossard (born 1943), poet and novelist
- Chrystine Brouillet (born 1958), novelist
- Françoise Bujold (1933–1981), poet, radio playwright, artist and publisher
C
[edit]- Chantal Cadieux (born 1967), playwright, novelist and screenwriter
- Catherine Chandler (born 1950), poet and translator
- Lisa Carducci (born 1943), poet, short story writer and novelist
- Claudine Chatel (born 1951), actress and writer
- Évelyne de la Chenelière (born 1975), playwright and actress
- Adrienne Choquette (1915–1973), journalist, editor, novelist, short story writer
- Andrée Christensen (born 1952), educator, editor, poet and novelist
- Stéfanie Clermont (born 1988), poet, novelist
- Anne Élaine Cliche (born 1959), novelist, essayist
- Yolande Cohen (born 1950), historian
- Daria Colonna (born 1989), poet
- Laure Conan, pen name of Marie-Louise-Félicité Angers, (1845–1924), first French-Canadian novelist
- Héloïse Côté (born 1979), fantasy novelist, academic
- Reine-Aimée Côté (born 1948), teacher, novelist
- Maya Cousineau Mollen (born 1975), poet
- Arlette Cousture (born 1948), historical fiction writer
- Gracia Couturier (born 1951), educator, children's writer, novelist and playwright
D
[edit]- Francine D'Amour (born 1946), educator, novelist
- France Daigle (born 1953), novelist and playwright
- Anne Dandurand (born 1953), novelist and actress
- Diane-Monique Daviau (born 1951), educator, writer, translator and journalist
- Carole David (born 1955), poet and novelist
- Caroline Dawson
- Claire Dé, pen name of Claire Dandurand, (born 1953), short story writer, playwright and novelist
- Corinne De Vailly (born 1959), French-born Canadian novelist, children's writer
- Monique Deland (born 1958), educator, journalist and poet
- Jeanne-Mance Delisle (born 1939 or 1941), playwright
- Denise Desautels (born 1945), poet and playwright
- Martine Desjardins (born 1957), novelist
- Roxane Desjardins (born 1991), writer, editor
- Sylvie Desrosiers (born 1954), novelist, screenwriter
- Aurore Dessureault-Descôteaux (1926–2015), playwright
- Hélène Dorion (born 1958), poet, novelist, essayist
- Christiane Duchesne (born 1949), researcher, educator, illustrator, translator and novelist
- Louise Dupré (born 1949), journalist, educator, poet, playwright and novelist
E
[edit]- Gloria Escomel (born 1941), Uruguayan-born Canadian educator, novelist and playwright
F
[edit]- Abla Farhoud (1945–2021), Lebanese-born Canadian playwright and novelist
- Jocelyne Felx (born 1949), literary critic and writer
- Madeleine Ferron (1922–2010), novelist
- Naomi Fontaine (born 1987), novelist
- Dominique Fortier (born 1972), novelist and translator
- Arlette Fortin (1949–2009), novelist
- Danielle Fournier (born 1955), educator, poet, novelist and essayist
- Christiane Frenette (born 1954), educator, poet and novelist
G
[edit]- Madeleine Gagnon (born 1938), educator, literary critic and novelist
- Karoline Georges (born 1970), novelist, short story writer, poet and children's writer
- Mylène Gilbert-Dumas (born 1967), novelist
- Gabrielle Gourdeau (1952–2006), literary critic, novelist
- Germaine Guèvremont (1893–1968), journalist, novelist
H
[edit]- Hélène Harbec (born 1946), poet, novelist
- Pauline Harvey (born 1950), novelist
- Valérie Harvey (born 1979), writer and sociologist
- Anne Hébert (1916–2000), poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright
- Nicole Houde (1945–2016), novelist and short story writer
- Céline Huyghebaert, novelist
J
[edit]- Suzanne Jacob (born 1943), novelist, poet, playwright, singer-songwriter and critic
K
[edit]- Hélène Koscielniak (fl. from 2007), novelist
L
[edit]- Carole Labarre (born 1966), novelist
- Andrée Laberge (born 1953), novelist
- Marie Laberge (born 1950), actress, educator, poet and playwright
- Marie-Sissi Labrèche (born 1969), screenwriter, novelist
- Chloé LaDuchesse, poet
- Claire de Lamirande (1929–2009), novelist, literary critic
- Michèle Laframboise (born 1960), science fiction writer and comics artist
- Claire de Lamirande (1929–2009), novelist and literary critic
- Blanche Lamontagne-Beauregard (1889–1958), early Quebec poet
- Tania Langlais (born 1979), poet and educator
- Claudia Larochelle (born 1978), journalist, radio host, columnist and novelist
- Monique LaRue (born 1948), novelist, short story writer and essayist
- Mona Latif-Ghattas (1946–2021), Egyptian-born Canadian novelist, poet and short story writer
- Marie-Renée Lavoie (born 1974), novelist
- Louise Leblanc (born 1942), educator, novelist, screenwriter
- Perrine Leblanc (born 1980), novelist
- Rachel Leclerc (born 1955), poet and novelist
- Françoise Lepage (1945–2010), educator, non-fiction writer and children's writer
- Anne Legault (born 1958), actress, playwright and educator
- Catherine Leroux (born 1979), novelist, short story writer
- Marguerite Lescop (1915–2020), novelist
M
[edit]- Louise Maheux-Forcier (1929–2015), novelist
- Michèle Mailhot (1932–2009), novelist
- Andrée Maillet (1921–1995), short story writer, poet and novelist
- Antonine Maillet (born 1929), novelist and playwright
- Jovette Marchessault (1938–2012), novelist, poet, playwright, painter and sculptor
- Michèle Marineau (born 1955), novelist and translator
- Suzanne Martel (1924–2012), journalist, novelist and children's writer
- Claire Martin (1914–2014), short story writer, novelist, autobiographer
- Carole Massé (born 1949), poet, novelist
- Marie-Sœurette Mathieu (born 1949), Haitian-born Canadian teacher, poet and novelist
- Catherine Mavrikakis (born 1961), novelist
- Julie Mazzieri (born 1975), novelist and translator
- Stéfani Meunier (born 1971), novelist and short story writer
- Andrée A. Michaud (born 1957), novelist and playwright
- Pauline Michel (born 1944), novelist, poet, playwright, songwriter and screenwriter
- Hélène Monette (1960–2015), poet
- Madeleine Monette (born 1951), poet, novelist, short story writer and essayist
N
[edit]- Yvette Naubert (1918–1982), playwright and novelist
- Francine Noël (born 1945), playwright and novelist
O
[edit]- Madeleine Ouellette-Michalska (born 1930), novelist, essayist and diarist
- Francine Ouellette (born 1947), novelist
- Hélène Ouvrard (1938–1999), playwright, novelist, poet and short story writer
P
[edit]- Suzanne Paradis (born 1932), poet and novelist
- Alice Parizeau (1930–1990), Polish-born Canadian novelist
- Aline Poulin (1965–2011), poet and novelist
- Francine Pelletier (born 1959), science fiction novelist and short story writer
- Hélène Pelletier-Baillargeon (born 1932), journalist, essayist, and biographer
- Maryse Pelletier (born 1946), actress, playwright and novelist
- Stéphanie Pelletier (born 1980), short story writer, novelist
- Geneviève Pettersen (born 1982), novelist
- Emmanuelle Pierrot (born 1994), novelist
- Michèle Plomer (born 1965), novelist, children's writer, translator
- Anique Poitras (1961–2016), novelist
- Marie-Hélène Poitras (born 1975), novelist and journalist
- Gabrielle Poulin (1929–2015), novelist, short story writer and poet
- Monique Proulx (born 1952), novelist, short story writer and screenwriter
Q
[edit]- Judy Quinn (born 1974), poet and novelist
- Pascale Quiviger (born 1969), poet, novelist and essayist
R
[edit]- Bernadette Renaud (born 1945), novelist and young people's writer
- Thérèse Renaud (1927–2005), actress, poet and novelist
- Aurélie Resch (born 1971), travel writer, poet, novelist and short story writer
- Hélène Rioux (born 1949), novelist and translator
- Dominique Robert (born 1957), poet, novelist and short story writer
- Suzanne Robert (1948–2007), novelist, short story writer
- Régine Robin (1939–2021), novelist and non-fiction writer
- Esther Rochon (born 1948), novelist, science fiction writer
- Maryse Rouy (born 1951), French-born novelist
- Gabrielle Roy (1909–1983), influential novelist, educator, autobiographer
S
[edit]- Anne-Marie Saint-Cerny (born 1954), novelist, non-fiction writer and politician
- Annette Saint-Pierre (born 1925), educator, novelist and publisher
- Marie Savard (1936–2012), poet and radio scriptwriter
- Jocelyne Saucier (born 1948), novelist and journalist
- Dominique Scali (born 1984), journalist and novelist
- Aki Shimazaki (born 1954), Japanese-born translator and novelist
- Louise Simard (born 1950), novelist
T
[edit]- Olivia Tapiero (born 1990), novelist
- France Théoret (born 1942), feminist, poet, novelist, playwright and essayist
- Marie José Thériault (born 1945), poet, novelist, performer and translator
- Kim Thúy (born 1968), Vietnamese-born Canadian novelist
- Lola Lemire Tostevin (born 1937), poet, novelist and feminist writer
- Lise Tremblay (born 1957), novelist and educator
- Clarisse Tremblay (1951–1999), poet
- Danielle Trussart (born 1948), visual artist, novelist and children's writer
- Élise Turcotte (born 1957), novelist and educator
- Roxane Turcotte (born 1952), children's and youth literature writer
V
[edit]- Hélène Vachon (born 1947), children's writer, novelist
- Lise Vaillancourt (born 1954), playwright, novelist
- Christine Dumitriu Van Saanen (1932–2008), Romanian-born French language poet and essayist
- Mélissa Verreault (born 1983), novelist, short story writer and translator
- Nancy Vickers (born 1946), novelist and poet
- Yolande Villemaire (born 1949), short story writer, novelist and poet
- Élisabeth Vonarburg (born 1947), French-born Canadian science fiction writer and novelist
W
[edit]- Audrée Wilhelmy (born 1985), novelist
Y
[edit]- Ying Chen (born 1961), Chinese-born Canadian novelist
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Desmeules, Christian (1 September 2007). "Littérature québécoise – Une nouvelle et incontournable histoire de la littérature québécoise" [Quebec Literature – A New and Inescapable History of Quebec Literature]. Le Devoir (in French). Montreal, Quebec. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Gould, Karen (1981). "Setting Words Free: Feminist Writing in Quebec". Signs. 6 (4). University of Chicago Press: 617–642. doi:10.1086/493838. JSTOR 3173735.
- ^ Sœeurs de Sainte Anne (1954). "Histoire de la littérature canadienne-française: La poésie" [History of French Canadian Literature: The Poetry] (in French). Marianopolis College. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Boisclair, Isabelle; Frenette, Catherine Dussault (2014). "Mosaïque: l'écriture des femmes au Québec (1980–2010)" [Mosaic: Women's Writing in Quebec (1980–2010)] (PDF). Recherches féministes (in French). 27 (2). Érudit: 39–61. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ Malla, Pasha (26 May 2015). "Too Different and Too Familiar: The Challenge of French-Canadian Literature". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.