Phillipe-Ignace François Aubert du Gaspé
Encyclopedia
Philippe-Ignace-Francois Aubert de Gaspé, or simply Philippe Aubert de Gaspé (1814–7 March 1841) was a Canadian
writer
and is credited with writing the first French Canadian
novel
.
Philippe-Ignace-Francois was tutored by his father Philippe-Joseph
and studied at the seminary of Nicolet
. He worked as a journalist
at the Quebec Mercury
and Le Canadien
. He was sentenced to a month in prison in November 1835 after clashing with Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan
, who had questioned his integrity. In February of the following year he unleashed a stink bomb
of asafoetida
at the National Assembly of Quebec
.
While lying-low at his father's house he began writing his novel L'influence d'un livre
. The story is made up of various fictionalised historical events, legends and folksongs which show the influence of father's recollections. Despite now being recognised as a major landmark in Canadian literature
the book was not well received and Philippe died shortly afterwards in Halifax
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and is credited with writing the first French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
.
Philippe-Ignace-Francois was tutored by his father Philippe-Joseph
Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé
Philippe-Joseph Aubert de Gaspé was a French Canadian writer and seigneur.He was born at Quebec City in 1786, the son of seigneur Pierre-Ignace Aubert de Gaspé and Catherine Tarieu de Lanaudière, the daughter of seigneur Charles-François Tarieu de La Naudière. The Aubert de Gaspé family was...
and studied at the seminary of Nicolet
Nicolet, Quebec
Nicolet, Quebec is the county seat of Nicolet-Yamaska Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 7,827...
. He worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
at the Quebec Mercury
Quebec Mercury
The Quebec Mercury was an English language weekly newspaper published in Quebec City from 1805 to 1863.The Mercury was founded by publisher Thomas Cary in respect and veneration of Canada's link to the United Kingdom. From 1828 to 1848 the Mercury was owned jointly by Thomas Cary Jr. and...
and Le Canadien
Le Canadien
Le Canadien was a French language newspaper published in Lower Canada from November 22, 1806 to March 14, 1810. Its motto was: "Nos institutions, notre langue et nos droits"...
. He was sentenced to a month in prison in November 1835 after clashing with Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, was a doctor and journalist.Born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, he studied medicine in Paris and immigrated to Lower Canada in 1823 where he became involved in the political reform movement of the Parti patriote...
, who had questioned his integrity. In February of the following year he unleashed a stink bomb
Stink bomb
A stink bomb or stinkbomb is a device designed to create an unpleasant smell. They range in effectiveness from simple pranks to military grade or riot control chemical agents.The Guinness Book of Records lists two smelliest substances...
of asafoetida
Asafoetida
Asafoetida , alternative spelling asafetida, is the dried latex exuded from the living underground rhizome or tap root of several species of Ferula, which is a perennial herb...
at the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
.
While lying-low at his father's house he began writing his novel L'influence d'un livre
L'influence d'un livre
The Influence of a Book is a novel by the Canadian writer Phillipe-Ignace François Aubert du Gaspé. It is considered to be the first French Canadian novel, and although the book was not well received initially, it has come to be recognized as a major landmark in Canadian literature.It is the tale...
. The story is made up of various fictionalised historical events, legends and folksongs which show the influence of father's recollections. Despite now being recognised as a major landmark in Canadian literature
Canadian literature
Canadian literature is literature originating from Canada. Collectively it is often called CanLit. Some criticism of Canadian literature has focused on nationalistic and regional themes, although this is only a small portion of Canadian Literary criticism...
the book was not well received and Philippe died shortly afterwards in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
.