Les insolences du Frère Untel
Encyclopedia
Les insolences du Frère Untel is a book first published in Montreal
by Les Editions de l'homme in 1960. In a very short time it sold more than 100,000 copies, in a society where a book with a 10,000 copy print run was considered a best seller. The anonymous author was Jean-Paul Desbiens
, a Marist Brother, who attacked the church-controlled education system in Quebec
.
The book had an important impact on the Quiet Revolution
in Quebec and on the educational reforms that eventually shaped the present Quebec education system
.
Desbiens was scathing in his attack of the existing system of classical colleges, where Latin
reigned supreme. He also criticized the poor quality of the French language
in Quebec, which he called joual
. He called for massive reforms in all aspects of the system. Later, he was also very critical of the way the reforms were carried out.
The book was translated as The Impertinences of Brother Anonymous and published by the Montreal based publisher Harvest House
in 1962.
There is a more recent French edition which is still kept in print by les Editions de l'homme and dated 1988. (ISBN 2761915844)
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
by Les Editions de l'homme in 1960. In a very short time it sold more than 100,000 copies, in a society where a book with a 10,000 copy print run was considered a best seller. The anonymous author was Jean-Paul Desbiens
Jean-Paul Desbiens
Jean-Paul Desbiens, Frère Pierre-Jérôme, OC was a Quebec writer, journalist, teacher and member of the Catholic order of Marist Brothers.He was born at Métabetchouan in the Lac Saint-Jean region of Quebec in 1927...
, a Marist Brother, who attacked the church-controlled education system in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
.
The book had an important impact on the Quiet Revolution
Quiet Revolution
The Quiet Revolution was the 1960s period of intense change in Quebec, Canada, characterized by the rapid and effective secularization of society, the creation of a welfare state and a re-alignment of politics into federalist and separatist factions...
in Quebec and on the educational reforms that eventually shaped the present Quebec education system
Education in Québec
The Quebec education system is governed by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport . It is administered at the local level by publicly elected French and English school boards...
.
Desbiens was scathing in his attack of the existing system of classical colleges, where Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
reigned supreme. He also criticized the poor quality of the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in Quebec, which he called joual
Joual
Joual is the common name for the linguistic features of basilectal Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national identity for a large number of artists from that area...
. He called for massive reforms in all aspects of the system. Later, he was also very critical of the way the reforms were carried out.
The book was translated as The Impertinences of Brother Anonymous and published by the Montreal based publisher Harvest House
Harvest House
Harvest House Publishers is Christian publishing company founded in 1974 in Irvine, California, United States and is now located in Eugene, Oregon, United States...
in 1962.
There is a more recent French edition which is still kept in print by les Editions de l'homme and dated 1988. (ISBN 2761915844)