Acadian literature is literature produced in Acadia,[Note 1] or considered as such.
The colonial period was characterized by a scarcity of textual production, largely attributable to the challenging socio-economic circumstances prevailing at the time. The poem Evangeline by American Henry Longfellow exerted a considerable influence on the emergence of Acadian literature. From the mid-19th century onwards, priest-writers began to publish. Historians such as Placide Gaudet and Pascal Poirier subsequently contributed to the field, and nationalist debates shaped the literature until the 1960s. From 1966 onwards, a new generation of authors challenged traditional values. In the early 1970s, poetry collections such as Cri de terre by Raymond Guy Leblanc, Acadie Rock by Guy Arsenault, Saison antérieures by Léonard Forest, and Mourir à Scoudouc by Herménégilde Chiasson marked this turning point. The success of these writers influenced others, including Melvin Gallant, whose collections of tales, Ti-Jean, and Louis Haché, whose historical novels were well-received. Claude Le Bouthillier and Ulysse Landry also made an impact with their speculative fiction and poetry, respectively. In 1979, Antonine Maillet was awarded the esteemed Prix Goncourt for her novel Pélagie-la-Charrette.
Dyane Léger, the inaugural Acadian female author to be published, released a poetry collection in 1980. Gérald Leblanc also made a significant contribution during this decade.
The establishment of Éditions d'Acadie in 1972 facilitated the broader dissemination of works and enabled local publishing. Among other publishing houses, Éditions Perce-Neige has distinguished itself in the field of poetry, while Bouton d'or Acadie has established a reputation for excellence in children's literature. In 2000, Éditions d'Acadie filed for bankruptcy, compelling numerous authors to seek out publishers in Quebec or Ontario. A portion of the repertoire remains unavailable in bookstores. Several anthologies and literary histories have been published, notably by Marguerite Maillet and David Lonergan. Criticism only truly developed in the 1990s, yet Acadian authors faced challenges in gaining recognition and popularizing their works outside of Acadia. However, the number of writers and the quality of their work have grown significantly.
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