
A History for the Future
Rewriting Memory and Identity in Quebec
Jocelyn Letourneau(Author)
McGill-Queen's University Press
Will be published approx. on 8. July 2004
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-0-7735-2724-9 (ISBN)
Description
In A History for the Future Jocelyn Letourneau, a leader of the new wave of Quebec intellectuals, examines the hotly debated topics of history and memory in Quebec and Canada. Rather than focus on the past itself, he considers the challenge of turning the past into a narrative that contributes to building a better society, thereby establishing a liberating legacy for that society's heirs. As relatively new societies whose memories and histories are built on European foundations, the interrelated narratives of Quebec and Canadian history provide a rich body of material for such a far-reaching reflection. By investigating the role Quebec's historical narrative plays for contemporary Quebecers, Letourneau shows how interpretations of the past affect a society's future.
Reviews / Votes
"a very subtle and impressive meditation on contemporary Quebec's historical imagination ... it deserves to become the focus of a wide-ranging discussion on the future of Canadian history. [Letourneau is] one of the subtlest minds to explore the possibility of writing history under conditions of postmodernity." Ian Mackay, Histoire sociale - Social History "Stunningly intelligent, provocative, perceptive, and at once scholarly and poetic, this is a major book that ranks among significant works dealing with Quebec identity. Completely original ... it is the work of an eminent intellectual whose profound, sen "This book that must be read by anyone who wants to understand the historical roots or present condition of Canada and Quebec. It will be integral all future debates on these topics. The book is full of stimulating and well-phrased ideas." Jean-Jacques Si "Stunningly intelligent, provocative, perceptive, and at once scholarly and poetic, this is a major book that ranks among significant works dealing with Quebec identity. Completely original ... it is the work of an eminent intellectual whose profound, sensitive, and rigorous analysis will renew the debate on this topic. This book must be read, reflected on, discussed, even taken issue with, but it must not be ignored." Louis Cornellier, Le Devoir "This book that must be read by anyone who wants to understand the historical roots or present condition of Canada and Quebec. It will be integral all future debates on these topics. The book is full of stimulating and well-phrased ideas." Jean-Jacques Simard, Revue d'histoire de l'Amerique francaiseMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Montreal
Canada
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
370 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7735-2724-9 (9780773527249)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2004
1st Edition
De Gruyter
€29.49
Available for download
Person
Jocelyn Letourneau holds the Canada Research Chair in the History and Political Economy of Contemporary Quebec at Universite Laval.