L'opera di Michel Tremblay spesso approfondisce le vite della classe operaia, esplorando l'intersezione tra difficoltà sociali e morali. I suoi personaggi, frequentemente donne, sono rappresentati con un misto di realismo e umorismo, mostrando le loro imperfezioni accanto alle loro qualità accattivanti. Tremblay è noto per il suo uso innovativo del linguaggio, incorporando colloquialismi che conferiscono autenticità alle sue narrazioni e sfidano le convenzioni letterarie. La sua prolifica produzione spazia in varie forme, tra cui opere teatrali e romanzi, tutte unite da una distintiva esplorazione della condizione umana.
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 combines volumes 6 and 7 of the acclaimed Desrosiers Diaspora series, featuring If by Chance and Destination Paradise. In If by Chance, set in 1925, the renowned Ti-Lou, the She-Wolf of Ottawa, returns to Montréal after a successful career at the Château Laurier, where she entertained influential figures. With her savings packed away, she arrives at Windsor station, contemplating the surprises life may hold. Five potential fates await her, each filled with risks and opportunities. Yet, Ti-Lou must confront more than just chance; she grapples with loneliness and the fear of love. Destination Paradise transports readers to the Paradise Club on 1930s Montréal's Main Street, a haven for old boys. Here, Édouard Tremblay steps into the "big world" after starting as a shoe seller. At just eighteen, he is captivated by his alter ego, the Duchess of Langeais, inspired by Balzac's novel. While Édouard's future as a drag queen in the vibrant Montréal scene is known, this narrative tenderly explores his early life and the formative experiences that shape his stage persona, marking a poignant rite of passage.
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.
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.
"À soixante-seize ans, Marcel a passé le plus clair de sa vie à l’ombre – enfermé à vingt-trois ans dans l’étrange asile de Nominingue, au fin fond des Laurentides, il est toujours au pied de ses mystérieuses et menaçantes montagnes, plus de cinquante ans plus tard, bien qu’on l’ait laissé sortir. Ces montagnes, il les peint, avec beaucoup de ciel. Il peint aussi la mer, qu’il n’a jamais vue « en vrai ». Et comme dans une tardive tentative de libération, le voilà qui se lance dans un projet inédit : écrire son journal. Remonter le fil d’une folie qui l’a mis à l’isolement – malgré les visites de sa mère morte et de son chat imaginaire. Dans cette variation d’une grande douceur sur l’évaporation du temps et la terrible violence faite à une âme simple, les lecteurs fidèles reconnaîtront un personnage qu’ils ont vu grandir dans les Chroniques du Plateau-Mont-Royal. Mais s’il fleurit comme un nouveau bourgeon de l’œuvre-arbre de Michel Tremblay, Le peintre d’aquarelles se lit comme le roman unique et bouleversant d’une vie volée."--Page 4 de la couverture.
"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.
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.
« Je voulais faire de La cité dans l’œuf un roman fantastique structuré comme une histoire policière, le suspense policier étant presque plus important que le fond imaginaire. François Laplante fils, le héros, est non seulement victime d’une histoire abracadabrante plus grande que lui, mais il en est aussi l’investigateur, le "Maigret", la "Miss Marple". Je crois qu’il faut suivre les aventures de François Laplante fils sans trop essayer d’en décortiquer les symboles, comme on lit un bon roman policier sans chercher à surprendre les invraisemblances. » — MICHEL TREMBLAY
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.
