Bertrand Vac
Encyclopedia
Bertrand Vac was the nom de plume of Quebec
novelist and surgeon Aimé Pelletier (b. Aug. 20, 1914, Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
; d. July 23, 2010, Montreal
).
Aimé Pelletier, writing as Bertrand Vac, developed a literary career while working for over fifty years at the Verdun General Hospital as a surgeon and, in semi-retirement, as a surgical assistant. His literary activities were initially hidden from his medical colleagues.
Pelletier was born the eighth of ten children to the local surgeon at Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
. The family later relocated to Joliette, Quebec
. Pelletier, originally wishing to become an architect, was persuaded to become a doctor by his father. Pelletier graduated from the Laval University medical school in 1939. He volunteered for service during the Second World War, and was with the medical corps both during the war and until 1946. He worked in field hospital
s behind the front lines in France, particularly during the Battle of Normandy
, when he arrived in France as part of the Normandy Invasion.
Pelletier's nom de plume was developed in France. After the war, Pelletier chose to study surgery in Paris, where his colleagues preferred to call him "Bernard", rather than "Aimé". Vac was chosen as his literary surname because it represented the Hindu God of Speech.
Pelletier wrote fourteen books during a sixty year literary career, primarily with publisher Le cercle du livre de France, later known Les Éditions Pierre Tisseyre. He won the Prix du Cercle de livre de France on three occasions. Pelletier is also believed to be the first Quebec writer to publish a detective novel (L'assassin dans l'hôpital, 1956). As Bertrand Vac, Pelletier has been the subject of academic commentary and analysis.
Pelletier's novels, such as Louise Genest (1950) and Saint-Pépin, P.Q. (1955) are considered to have influenced a generation. The themes of adultery in his early works were groundbreaking at that particular time in the history of Quebec literature. Many of his works are particularly referenced to Montreal's Golden Square Mile
, where Pelletier lived for over half a century. None of his works have been translated from the original French.
Pelletier's ashes are interred at his ancestral cemetery, located in Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
novelist and surgeon Aimé Pelletier (b. Aug. 20, 1914, Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare is a parish municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality.-History:...
; d. July 23, 2010, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
).
History
-
-
- Cynicism saves you a lot of time.
-
-
-
-
- Bertrand Vac, Mes pensées "profondes" (1967)
-
-
Aimé Pelletier, writing as Bertrand Vac, developed a literary career while working for over fifty years at the Verdun General Hospital as a surgeon and, in semi-retirement, as a surgical assistant. His literary activities were initially hidden from his medical colleagues.
Pelletier was born the eighth of ten children to the local surgeon at Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Quebec
Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare is a parish municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality.-History:...
. The family later relocated to Joliette, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Pelletier, originally wishing to become an architect, was persuaded to become a doctor by his father. Pelletier graduated from the Laval University medical school in 1939. He volunteered for service during the Second World War, and was with the medical corps both during the war and until 1946. He worked in field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
s behind the front lines in France, particularly during the Battle of Normandy
Battle of Normandy
The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion and establishment of Allied forces in Normandy, France, during Operation Overlord in World War II. It was the largest amphibious operation in history...
, when he arrived in France as part of the Normandy Invasion.
Pelletier's nom de plume was developed in France. After the war, Pelletier chose to study surgery in Paris, where his colleagues preferred to call him "Bernard", rather than "Aimé". Vac was chosen as his literary surname because it represented the Hindu God of Speech.
Pelletier wrote fourteen books during a sixty year literary career, primarily with publisher Le cercle du livre de France, later known Les Éditions Pierre Tisseyre. He won the Prix du Cercle de livre de France on three occasions. Pelletier is also believed to be the first Quebec writer to publish a detective novel (L'assassin dans l'hôpital, 1956). As Bertrand Vac, Pelletier has been the subject of academic commentary and analysis.
Pelletier's novels, such as Louise Genest (1950) and Saint-Pépin, P.Q. (1955) are considered to have influenced a generation. The themes of adultery in his early works were groundbreaking at that particular time in the history of Quebec literature. Many of his works are particularly referenced to Montreal's Golden Square Mile
Golden Square Mile
The Golden Square Mile was the name of a luxurious neighbourhood at the foot of Mount Royal in the west-central section of downtown Montreal, Canada...
, where Pelletier lived for over half a century. None of his works have been translated from the original French.
Pelletier's ashes are interred at his ancestral cemetery, located in Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec
Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec
Sainte-Mélanie is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality. It is located along the western shores of the L'Assomption River.-History:...
.
Original Works
- 2008 Que le diable m'emporte
- 1998 À mon seul désir
- 1992 Les voluptueuses
- 1991 Rue de Bullion
- 1988 Bizarres
- 1974 Le carrefour des géants, Montréal 1820-1885
- 1967 Mes pensées "profondes"
- 1965 Histoires galantes
- 1963 La favorite et le conquérant
- 1956 L'assassin dans l'hôpital
- 1955 Saint-Pépin, P.Q.
- 1952 Deux portes ... une addresse
- 1950 Louise Genest
Other
- 1987 Jean C. Lallemand raconte Memoirs of an industrialist, philanthropist and music patron, with the collaboration of Bertrand Vac.
- 1967 Appelez-moi Amédée Unpublished play.