Gabrielle Roy et Margaret Laurence: Deux chemins, une recherche by Terrance Hughes (review)

HUMANITIES 189 of information and self-analysis provided· by Bessette into a coherent sequence of subjects, thus making the information far more accessible to study and further reflection. These subjects, convincingly identified and illustrated, are 'Enfances,' 'Lith~rature pure,' 'Exils,' 'Pedagogies,' 'Comportements ,' 'Feminitude' (which studies the image of women in Bessette's works but does not deal sufficiently with his misogyny), and 'Ecritures.' In this last section Robidoux develops the thesis that all Bessette's creative works materialize a 'projet d'ecriture' which not only ensures textual genesis but is itself the 'essential and main theme' ofthose texts (86-7). This constant objective was stated by Bessette's alter ego, Orner Marin, in Le Semestre: 'restaurer cette langue [maternelle] dans sa splendeur originaire ... et meme ... aller plus loin ... pour recreer un dire irresistible ... Ie livre vraiment primal qui serait dans un sens un roman-memoire et d'anticipation creatrice ...' (103) (201; cf 84). The constant structuring presence of this 'projet d'ecriture' in Bessette 's work is Robidoux's fundamental hypothesis (103), and the second part of La Creation de Gerard Bessette, 'L'oeuvre de creation,' is a thorough, convincing, and often fascinating demonstration of this hypothesis through the careful study of Bessette's creative works. Robidoux~s success in this demonstration is all the more impressive when one considers the great thematic and stylistic diversity of Bessette's creative works, ranging from the young man's poetry to more sociological novels written in a relatively traditional style, and then to the innovative stylistics and thematics of the more recent novels. Of particular interest is the study ofBessette's earliestbook, Poernes temporels, which convincingly demonstrates its aesthetic value. Bessette's other novels are then studied in five separate sections entitled respectively 'Le roman de style traditionnel ' (La Bagarre, Le Libraire, Les Pedagogues); 'Vers un roman nouveau: La Comrnensale'; 'Stream of consciousness' (L'Incubation, Le Cycle, Les Anthropoi"des); 'Un roman-bilan: Le Semestre'; and 'Inventaire: La GardenParty de Christophine; Les Dires d'Orner Marin.' In each case, the validity of Robidou.x's fundamental hypothesis is apparent. One's only regret is that this excellent book gives but passing attention to Bessette's critical production, an area in which 'la creation de Gerard Bessette' is again evident. Robidoux does, however, point out many relevant affinities between Bessette's critical and creative works. La Creation de Gerard Bessette is a fitting tribute to an outstanding author whose work deserves still further study. (NEIL B. BISHOP) Terrance Hughes. Gabrielle Roy et Margaret Laurence: Deux chemins, une recherche Les Editions du Ble, 2nd edition.191. $12.50 paper The fact that this study - which is based on Hughes's PH D thesis _.is now 190 LETTERS IN CANADA 1987 in its second edition speaks for its popularity in French Canada. This may be for two reasons: it is, as it claims, a step forward in the still vastly neglected field of comparative literature in Canada, and it also serves the purpose of familiarizing French-Canadian readers with the novels of Margaret Laurence. While the writings of Gabrielle Roy have been systematically published in English translation by McClelland and Stewart, only four of Laurence's novels have appeared in French. This study is divided into two parts. The first provides the reader with a survey of the development of the Canadian novel, of the formative years of Roy and Laurence, and of their beginnings as novelists. Part two examines and compares their writings with regard to the female, and the outcast or marginal character, Le., the Indian and Eskimo. Hughes also discusses Roy's and Laurence's artistic and aesthetic concepts as well as the origins of their Weltanschauung. Unfortunately, the title and introduction promise more than the study offers. The author himself is acutely aware of this. He states in his conclusion: Elle [1'etude] a sans doute souleve plus de questions qu'elle n'en a resolu. Nous n'avons guere aborde Ies differences de style, d'ecriture, ... Nous avons mentionne que ni Roy ni Laurence n'ont revolutionne Ie genre romanesque au Quebec et au Canada, mais nous limiteracette constatation assez rudimentaire ne rend pas du tout justice al'efficacite...