Roch Carrier

Roch Carrier (born May 13, 1937) is a celebrated French-Canadian novelist and author of "contes" (a very brief form of the short story).

Related Topics:
May 13 - 1937 - French - Canadian - Short story

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He was born in Sainte-Justine-de-Dorchester, Quebec and studied at the Université St-Louis (in the Canadian province of New Brunswick), the Université de Montréal (in Quebec), and at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France, where he received a doctorate in literature.

Related Topics:
Quebec - New Brunswick - Université de Montréal - Sorbonne - Paris - France

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From 1994 to 1997, he served as head of the Canada Council. In 1998, he ran as an electoral candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party under Jean Charest, but was not elected.

Related Topics:
Canada Council - 1998 - Quebec Liberal Party - Jean Charest

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In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1999, Carrier was named Canada's National Librarian of Canada. He held this office until 2004.

Related Topics:
Order of Canada - 1999 - National Librarian of Canada - 2004

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Carrier defended Jacques Poulin's novel Volkswagen Blues in Canada Reads 2005.

Related Topics:
Jacques Poulin - Volkswagen Blues - Canada Reads 2005

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Also involved in theatre (having served as playwright at the Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde), Carrier has adapted La guerre, yes sir! and Floralie, où es-tu? for the stage. La guerre, yes sir! was produced as a play in 1970. Floralie, où es-tu? was performed by Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde in 1974.

Related Topics:
Theatre - Playwright - Théâtre du Nouveau-Monde

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An excerpt from "Le chandail de hockey" ("The Hockey Sweater"), one of Carrier's most famous contes, is reprinted on the back of the Canadian five-dollar bill. The story, about a young boy who orders a Montreal Canadiens sweater from the Eaton's catalogue, but receives a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey instead, is considered by many to be a literary allegory for the linguistic and cultural tensions between English and French Canadians, and is thus considered one of the most important works of Canadian literature ever written, essential reading for anybody who seeks to understand the complex realities of linguistic and cultural identity in Canada. The NFB has made this story into an animated short film, narrated by Carrier in both the French and English versions.

Related Topics:
The Hockey Sweater - Canadian five-dollar bill - Montreal Canadiens - Eaton's - Toronto Maple Leafs - Allegory - Canadian literature - NFB

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Sheila Fischman has won various awards for translation of his books into English.

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