Claire Martin, (18 April 1914 – 18 June 2014) was the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

of the Canadian writer Claire Montreuil. She wrote mainly in French. Her novels often have themes of women's liberation and erotic relationships. Martin frequently revealed her devotions toward the "Frenchness" and

Quebec nationalism Quebec nationalism or Québécois nationalism is a feeling and a political doctrine that prioritizes cultural belonging to, the defence of the interests of, and the recognition of the political legitimacy of the Québécois nation. It has been ...

as saying "I prefer to be of Quebec." or "I feel closer to love as a French-Canadian." In her works, Quebec and French-Canadian are portrayed as well-educated and living well. Martin focused her writing style on risks and illnesses of love, and wrote with prejudice and social conventions. Her works are characterized by purity and crafty use of language.

Early life and education

Martin (Claire Montreuil) was born in

Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Communauté métrop ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Government of Canada, Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is ...

. She was educated at the Ursuline convent and by the Dames de la Congrégation. According to her interview with Winnipeg Free Press, it is said that her father gave negative influence on her childhood being against education for girls and expressing the hatred toward women.Winnipeg Free Press, Monday, October 3, 1966

Career

In 1945 Martin lived in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

and became a writer in residence at the

University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa (french: Université d'Ottawa), often referred to as uOttawa or U of O, is a bilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on directly to the northeast of Downtown Ottaw ...

. Her first novel, ''Avec ou sans amour'', was published in 1958. Her next two novels, the psychological thriller ''Doux-amer'' in 1960 and ''Quand j'aurai payé ton visage'' in 1962 were praised for elegant use of language. The latter was translated into English and published as ''The Legacy''. In 1965 she published her two-volume autobiography, ''Dan un gant de fer''. In 1970 she published her final novel, ''Les Morts''. In 1972 Martin left the university, and lived in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...

until 1982, when she returned to Quebec. In 2014 she celebrated her 100th birthday on 18 April and died on 18 June.

Honours

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Martin was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the c ...

in 1984 in recognition for being "one of the most important writers of her generation in Canada". She was promoted to Companion in 2001. She was made an Officer of the

National Order of Quebec The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as ''l'Ordre national du Québec'', and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Govern ...

in 2007. She won the Prix du Cercle du livre de France in 1958 for her first book ''Avec ou sans amour.'' She won the Prix France-Québec and the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction (French) for her autobiographical books ''Dans un gant de fer'' (1965) and ''La joue droite'' (1966), respectively. Her final novel, ''Les Morts'' (1970), was adapted and shown at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert in 1972.

Selected bibliography

* ''Avec ou sans amour (With or Without Love)'', 1958 - A book of short stories and two novels * ''Doux-amer'', 1960 * ''Quand j'aurai payé ton visage'', 1962 * ''Dans un gant de fer (In an Iron Glove),'' 1965 - The first volume of her autobiography, about her family life and convent school days in her native Quebec city * ''La joue droite (The Right Cheek)'', September 1966 (winner of a 1966 Governor General's Award) - The second volume of her autobiography * ''Les Morts'', 1970 * ''La petite fille lit'', 1973 * ''Toute la vie'', 1999 * ''L'amour impuni'', 2000 * ''La brigande'', 2001 * ''Il s'appelait Thomas'', 2003

References

Winnipeg Free Press, Monday, October 3, 1966, Collection: Elizabeth Long, Item ID: File 266, Series: 4 : Biographies of Women, File: Martin, Claire

External links

Claire Martin
at

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage. Available f ...

* Archives of Claire Marti
(Fonds Claire Martin, R11778)
are held at

Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is t ...