About the Book
What does it mean to put down roots, to inhabit and insert oneself in a space, to make it our own, to transform it to our liking, and, in return, change under its influence? In short, what does it mean to become a habitant?
The term habitant has long been considered pejorative in Quebec: a quasi-synonym of an uncultivated, uncouth person, a country bumpkin, the French hillbilly. But wrongly so. Becoming a habitant is quite the adventure, one our forefathers undertook successfully and in an exemplary manner by building this country. There is no greater destiny than to fully inhabit a place.
This short book bears witness to this. The author, an academic with rural leanings, shares a few excerpts from his diary that put forth, in a fragmented manner, his journey of putting down roots (if we can overlook the apparent contradiction of this wording). This long journey, which covers close to half a century, could in fact have representative value, bearing witness to a moment, an era, a generation.
Can we be rooted to a place? Admittedly, we all have a journey. But is rootedness possible? And if we can become rooted to a place, a time, a community, a family, kin, then it is inevitable that sooner or later we will also be sadly uprooted.
However, traces of our presence may remain. Fragments…
Table of Contents:
Incipit Prendre racine
Le parcours, et autres bribes
La sortie
About the Author :
Robert Major, FRSC, Chevalier (knight) of France’s Ordre des Palmes académiques, has forged a career at the University of Ottawa as Professor of Literature, Department Chair, Vice-Dean, Research, Vice-President Academic and Provost. He has lived in the countryside for almost fifty years, an environment to which he has gradually become adjusted.
Review :
« Lecteur impénitent, amoureux des mots et du mot juste : ça remplit une tête, ça développe une plume, une signature. Au-delà de la qualité indéniable de l’écriture, il y a dans ce livre un parcours, un enracinement, celui du citadin devenu paysan, heureux d’habiter à la campagne. Il y a aussi l’humour mêlé à une ironie parfois mordante, sorte de plaisir réel à relever les travers des épigones, des curés, ou la bêtise des citadins venus voler l’ail des bois. Vous y rencontrerez Montaigne, Chateaubriand, des jésuites et même des voisins dans le rang 5, tous philosophes, chacun à sa façon et dans sa manière de vivre. »
Yvon Malette, fondateur des Éditions David et récipiendaire du Prix du livre d'Ottawa 2019
"Unrepentant reader, logophile and wordsmith: it occupies the mind, forces you to perfect your writing style, and develop a signature voice. In addition to the undeniable quality of the prose, this book is a journey, an assimilation, that of the city-dweller turned peasant, happy to live in the country. It combines humour with irony, that is at times scathing, taking real pleasure in calling attention to the shortcomings of epigones, parish priests, or the idiocy of urbanites trying to steal wild garlic. Here, you will encounter Montaigne, Chateaubriand, Jesuits, and the neighbours of Rang 5, all philosophers in their own way and lifestyles."
Yvon Malette, founder of Éditions David and recipient of the 2019 Prix du livre d'Ottawa
