Melvin Gallant | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Urbainville, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, Canada 24 May 1932 |
| Died | 20 October 2023 (aged 91) |
Melvin Gallant (May 24, 1932 - October 20, 2023) was a Canadian teacher, literary critic, editor and writer.
Born in Prince Edward Island, Gallant began his academic journey at Collège Saint-Joseph in Memramcook. From 1957 to 1960, he taught economics and accounting from 1957 to 1960 at Collège Sacré-Cœur in Bathurst. He left to study in Europe, earning a degree in political science from the University of Paris in 1960 and a Master of Arts from the Institut catholique de Paris in 1964. That same year, he began teaching French and Acadian literature at the Université de Moncton. His doctoral thesis, presented in 1970 at the University of Neuchâtel, Le Thème de la mort chez Roger Martin du Gard, was widely acclaimed.
Gallant co-founded Éditions d'Acadie in 1972. At the time, it was the largest French-language publishing house in North America outside Quebec. He was president until 1975, then chairman of the board and president of the executive committee from 1977 to 1984. In 1978, he also founded the Association des écrivains acadiens, which gave birth to Éditions Perce-Neige in 1980. The same year, he founded the political analysis magazine Égalité.
He published several novels, including some fifteen for children. Renowned for his Ti-Jean series, he stands out as the most celebrated Acadian children's author. Ti-Jean, inspired by a character from Acadian folklore, versions of which are also found in different cultures. In 1999, he created a female version of the character, Tite-Jeanne. Éditions d'Acadie closed its doors in 2000, and Gallant decided to publish new versions of Ti-Jean, this time with Bouton d'or Acadie. His other works include the documentary La Cuisine traditionnelle en Acadie, co-written in 1975 with Marielle Boudreau, the poetry collection L'Été insulaire (1982) and the historical novel Le Métis de Beaubassin (2009). The latter is the first book published by Éditions de la Francophonie. Melvin Gallant also publishes reviews, manuals and articles.