Beyond the Two Solitudes: The Literature of Montréal

In this course, we will use a chronological approach and a sociological lens to examine four classic texts written in and about Montréal: Bonheur d’occasion; Les Belles-soeurs; Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer; and Le bonheur à queue glissante. While the first two works present the traditional image of Montréal as a city of “two solitudes,” one French and one English, the last two novels interrupt this trope, giving voice to ever-growing immigrant populations that do not fit neatly inside it. This course counts as elective credit towards the major in French. (FREN 0210 or 0221 or 0230)