Félix-Antoine Savard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Félix-Antoine Savard
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| Born | August 31, 1896 |
| Died | August 24, 1982 (aged 85) Quebec City, Quebec
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Félix-Antoine Savard (born August 31, 1896 – died August 24, 1982) was a famous Canadian writer. He was also a priest, a university professor, and someone who studied traditional stories and customs (a folklorist). He is best known for his novel Menaud, maître draveur.
Born in Quebec City, Félix-Antoine Savard grew up in Chicoutimi, Quebec. He finished his university studies in 1918. Four years later, in 1922, he became a priest. He worked in different church roles in the Charlevoix and Saguenay regions. He even helped start a new church area (parish) in a town called Clermont in Charlevoix.
While living in Clermont, Savard spent time exploring the countryside. He got to know the local "log drivers" very well. Log drivers were people who guided cut trees down rivers. The beautiful mountains of Charlevoix inspired his 1937 novel, Menaud, maître draveur. This book made him very famous and won him an award from a respected French academy. It is still one of the most important books in Quebec literature today. The main character, Menaud, became a symbol of Quebec's identity.
In 1945, Félix-Antoine Savard joined the Faculty of Arts at Université Laval. This is a big university in Quebec. From 1950 to 1957, he was the dean of the faculty. This means he was in charge of that part of the university.
His Written Works
Félix-Antoine Savard wrote many different kinds of books. He wrote novels, poems, and even plays. His stories often explored the lives of people in rural Quebec. They also shared his thoughts and memories.
- Menaud maître-draveur, a novel, published in 1937. It was later translated into English as Boss of the River.
- L'abatis, a collection of poems and memories, published in 1943.
- La Minuit, another novel, published in 1948.
- Martin et le pauvre, a legend, published in 1959.
- Le Barachois, more poems and memories, published in 1959.
- La Folle, a play, published in 1960.
- La Dalle-des-morts, another play, published in 1965.
- Le Bouscueuil, poems and memories, published in 1972.
- Journal et souvenirs, a collection of journal entries and memories, published in 1973.
Awards and Recognition
Félix-Antoine Savard received many important awards for his writing and his work. These awards show how much his contributions to Canadian culture were valued.
- In 1945, he won the Lorne Pierce Medal. This award recognizes important achievements in Canadian literature.
- In 1959, he received a Governor General's Award for his book Malgré tout, la joie. This is one of Canada's most prestigious literary awards.
- In 1968, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive. It recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the country.
- In 1969, he was awarded the Prix Athanase-David. This is a major literary prize in Quebec.
- In 2005, his famous book Menaud, maître-draveur was chosen as one of Canada's 100 Most Important Books by the Literary Review of Canada.
