Antonine Maillet, Celebrated Acadian Writer, Passes Away at 95
Antonine Maillet, the renowned Canadian novelist and playwright, has passed away at the age of 95, her publisher announced on Monday. A prolific author with over forty works to her name, Maillet made history as the first non-European and the first Canadian to receive the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1979 for her novel "Pélagie-la-Charrette."
Born in 1929 in New Brunswick, Maillet played a pivotal role in bringing the history and culture of the Acadians, the French-speaking people inhabiting the Atlantic coast of Canada, to a global audience. "Pélagie-la-Charrette," her seminal novel, recounts the harrowing tale of a woman during the Grand Dérangement, the forced deportation of thousands of Acadians to the southern United States by British forces in the 18th century.
"We are eternal deportees," Maillet reflected in an interview with the Quebec newspaper La Presse. "As a people, we have endured a profound trauma. The Grand Dérangement was one of the first examples of ethnic cleansing in Western history."
While internationally recognized for her literary achievements, Maillet is perhaps best known in Canada for creating the beloved character of La Sagouine. This sassy cleaning lady, whose speech is infused with the unique "Chiac" dialect of New Brunswick—a blend of old French and English—has become an enduring symbol of Acadian culture. The character has inspired a popular theme park in New Brunswick called "Le Pays de la Sagouine."
"Antonine Maillet’s body of work was immense, marked by mischief, rebellious spirit, and conversations that lifted the soul," said French President Emmanuel Macron. "The Francophonie mourns her passing tonight, from Acadia to the Pacific. We join in the universal sorrow and pledge to continue her cause: the preservation of our French language."
"Her literary legacy will endure," echoed Canadian Culture Minister Pascale St-Onge. Maillet, who was a Commander of the Legion of Honour, died on Monday in Montreal, where she was a citizen of honour and had a street named after her.
Maillet’s contributions to literature and her unwavering advocacy for the Acadian and Francophone communities have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Canada and the world. Her works continue to captivate readers and inspire generations of writers and artists. As her words resonate through time, Antonine Maillet’s legacy as a literary icon and a champion of heritage will forever be etched in the annals of history.
