Michel Tremblay's work often delves into the lives of the working class, exploring the intersection of social and moral hardship. His characters, frequently women, are depicted with a blend of realism and humor, showcasing their imperfections alongside their endearing qualities. Tremblay is notable for his innovative use of language, incorporating colloquialisms that lend authenticity to his narratives and challenge literary conventions. His prolific output spans various forms, including plays and novels, all unified by a distinctive exploration of the human condition.
The narrative explores the challenges faced by Celine Poulin during her night shifts at a bustling restaurant on Boulevard St-Laurent in Montreal. Through her experiences, she highlights the vibrant atmosphere of the area while revealing the personal and professional hurdles encountered in the fast-paced restaurant industry.
The story explores Nana's tumultuous transition from childhood to adolescence, as she grapples with new responsibilities while caring for her ailing grandmother, Josephine. Simultaneously, her mother Maria struggles with her own inner turmoil in Montreal, caught between her rebellious nature and conflicting desires. This dual narrative highlights the challenges of familial bonds and the complexities of growing up amidst emotional upheaval.
It's May 1922, and preparations are in full swing for the marriage of Nana and Gabriel, which will take place the following month. There's just one problem: Nana's wedding dress has yet to be bought. Nana's mercurial mother, Maria, torn between her desire to measure up as a mother and the inescapable constraints of poverty, wonders how to pay for the wedding. And she's not the only one battling demons - the thought of the upcoming reunion unsettles every member of the large and dispersed Desrosiers family. While the wedding invitations announce a celebration, they also stir up old memories, past desires, and big regrets.
In this third installment of the "Notebook" trilogy, Celine delves into the complexities of her tumultuous relationship with Gilbert, capturing the highs and lows in her notebook. The narrative explores themes of love, conflict, and emotional turbulence, revealing the intricacies of their bond and the challenges they face together. Through Celine's reflections, readers gain insight into the depths of passion and the struggles that define their connection.
Set against the backdrop of September 1935, the narrative explores the intertwining lives of characters like Ti-Lou, Édouard, Victoire, and Josaphat, each grappling with profound loss and the quest for connection. As they navigate their struggles, particularly Josaphat’s daughter Laura’s desperate search for her mother, the story delves into themes of resilience amidst disillusionment. It captures fleeting moments of joy and the harsh realities of life, highlighting the enduring human spirit even in the face of forgotten dreams and inevitable heartache.
Michel Tremblay is the most important playwright in Quebec theatre history. Bill Findlay and Martin Bowman have translated eight of Tremblay's plays into Scots, capturing the energy and versatility of the Quebecois language. These critically acclaimed translations constitute an important body of work in modern Scottish theatre.
"Michel Tremblay's Twists of Fate gathers volumes 6 and 7 of the critically acclaimed Desrosiers Diaspora series of novels, If by Chance and Destination Paradise. In If by Chance, set in 1925, the great Ti-Lou, the famous She-Wolf of Ottawa, returns to Montréal. After a fruitful career at the Château Laurier, in the royal suite where she welcomed diplomats and men of the world, politicians and ministers of worship, she packs up and sneaks off, her suitcases replete with savings acquired at the cost of her body. Unrepentant, always whimsical, a damsel in distress, Louise Wilson-Desrosiers was a proud, free, exemplary courtesan ... When she arrives in the hall of the Windsor station, she wonders what surprises life may have in store for her. Five possible fates await her, each with their share of risks and opportunities, of good and less good fortune. But in each of these lives, Ti-Lou will have to deal with more than mere chance, because awaiting her at the crossroads are the blade of loneliness and, worse still, the fear of allowing herself to be loved. In Destination Paradise, we enter the Paradise Club, on 1930s Montréal's Main Street, one of the few places that caters to old boys, in a spot dubbed the Ringside. It's where Édouard Tremblay made his entry into the "big world," shortly after becoming a shoe seller on the avenue du Mont-Royal. Precocious despite his eighteen years of age, he is carried away by his double, the Duchess of Langeais, whose story he has just read in Balzac's eponymous novel. Of course, we already know that Édouard will become the Main's undisputed queen of the Montréal drag scene, associated with the spectacular Acapulco nights; but we knew less about Édouard's beginning in life, the childhood of his stage character. Destination Paradise tenderly reveals Édouard's rite of passage."--Provided by publisher
Dans le Montréal populaire des années cinquante, Michel Tremblay, par la magie des mots et le jeu des signes, découvrait qu'au fond des livres bat le cœur du monde. Dans la compagnie de Saint-Exupéry, Eschyle, Jules Verne, Victor Hugo, Gabrielle Roy ou Hergé, il entrait en littérature - avec la complicité de sa mère, cette Rhéauna aux reparties si savoureuses qui allait devenir la grosse femme des Chroniques du Plateau Mont-Royal. Un ange cornu avec des ailes de tôle prolonge et amplifie, à travers la mémoire, un véritable chant d'amour à l'unique passion d'une vie : les livres.
"En 1913, à Sainte-Maria-de-Saskatchewan, Rhéauna apprend de sa grand-mère que sa mère souhaite l'avoir près d'elle, à Montréal. Il lui faut donc quitter cette famille d'adoption où, avec ses soeurs Béa et Alice, elle a grandi au milieu d'infinis champs de maïs.En trois jours et quatre rêves, elle traverse le continent et rencontre des personnages aux ailes felliniennes. À son arrivée dans la métropole, une des pages les plus mémorables de sa jeune vie aura été tournée. Ce qui l'attend, au-delà du bonheur fragile de retrouver Maria, n'a pas encore de nom en elle." -- cover.
