Maria Chapdelaine

Louis Hémon

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1913

Book Brief

Louis Hémon

Maria Chapdelaine

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1913

Book Details

Pages

124

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Quebec • 1910s

Publication Year

1913

Audience

Adult

Super Short Summary

Maria Chapdelaine, a young woman growing up on a farm in rural Quebec at the beginning of the twentieth century, must choose between three suitors—her beloved Francois, a rugged backwoodsman who dies before they can marry; Eutrope, a nearby farmer offering a continuation of her hardscrabble life; and Lorenzo, who presents an opportunity for a more modern life in the city.

Nostalgic

Contemplative

Melancholic

Inspirational

Heartwarming

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Critics praise Maria Chapdelaine for its vivid depiction of early 20th-century rural Quebec and its exploration of cultural identity and resilience. Hémon’s descriptive prowess and emotional depth are highly commended. However, some find the pacing slow and the character development lacking depth. Overall, it's a poignant, if occasionally languid, portrayal of Canadian frontier life.

Who Should Read Maria Chapdelaine?

Ideal for readers who appreciate realistic portrayals of early 20th-century rural life, Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon will resonate with fans of Willa Cather’s My Ántonia or Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie. Its themes of hardship, love, and the struggle against nature offer an evocative glimpse into the resilience of the human spirit.

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