Le Livre noir du Canada anglais
Le Livre noir du Canada Anglais (The Black Book of English Canada) is a series of three polemic books written by Quebec journalist Normand Lester. The first volume was published in 2001.[1] The essays relate what are, from the author's point of view while including many historian's citations, historical fabrications and injustices in Canada, notably those against the Quebecers, Jewish and aboriginal peoples. Its publication resulted in the suspension of Lester by the Société Radio-Canada.
Description
The books responded to perceived Quebec bashing in the English Canadian press following the airing of Heritage Minutes, the treatment of the 1995 Quebec referendum and the federalist advertising campaign that would later develop into the sponsorship scandal. According to Lester, the English Canadian media was quick to pick up on stories that were distorted or untruthful, such as the supposed singing of a Nazi anthem at an early sovereigntist rally, which was actually an unrelated song with a similar title.
Generally, the books seek to disprove many of the claims of federalists, attempting to show that the Quebec sovereignty movement was not inherently fascist and anti-semitic, and that these prejudices were in plentiful supply in English Canada. Volume one accused former Canadian Prime Minister R. B. Bennett of funding fascist Adrien Arcand.
Volumes
- Le Livre noir du Canada Anglais (2001; ISBN 2-89549-045-7)
- Le Livre noir du Canada Anglais 2 (2002; ISBN 2-89549-065-1)
- Le Livre noir du Canada Anglais 3 (2003; ISBN 2-89549-117-8)
Reviews
Favorable
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society awarded Mr. Lester of the Olivar-Asselin Award for his courage and professionalism.[2] There are also several other favorable reviews of the book:
- Despite some flaws and shortcomings it is a book that makes event (Stéphane Stapinsky)[3]
- Norman Lester succeeds in this book to denounce historic realities (Yves Laberge)[4]
Unfavorable
For the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation this work was incompatible with the interests of the organization which led Normand Lester to be suspended.[5] Lester will also be accused of lacking professional judgment in a critical approach of the book.[6] Other criticisms unfavorable to the work exist:
- Lester has the right to shout and excite and be stupid. Freedom of expression, race and religion are not the issue. The problem is propaganda like that made by Lester by publishing this book. (The Globe and Mail) [7]
- It's the perfect piece of racist literature, a model on the methodology of inciting hatred.(The Globe and Mail)[8]
Political reactions
Favorable
- Quebec Premier Bernard Landry has been praising it as a must-read[9]
Unfavorable
- Those who see Canada as a series of defeats can reconstruct history according to this vision and it is the attitude of Normand Lester in is trilogy.(Graham Fraser - Commissioner of Official Languages)[10]
See also
- Pierre Vallières
- Speak White, poem and film
- Politics of Quebec
- Politics of Canada
- History of Quebec
- History of Canada
External links
- Le Livre noir du Canada anglais Article - The Globe and Mail
References
- ^ https://voir.ca/societe/2001/11/22/normand-lester-chronique-dun-depart-annonce/
- ^ http://irq.quebec/team/normand-lester/
- ^ http://agora.qc.ca/documents/collective-memory--a_password_which_not_passed_the_old_peches_of_canada_anglais_by_stephane_stapinsky
- ^ http://www.nuitblanche.com/commentaire-lecture/le-livre-noir-du-canada-anglais-ti-and-t-ii/
- ^ https://vigile.quebec/archives/dossier-medias/1-11/01-11-20-ld.html
- ^ https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2013/04/15/le-livre-noir-de-normand-lester
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/whitewashes-black-and-books/article757957/
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/quebec-is-mad-and-its-all-your-fault/article764486/
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/quebec-is-mad-and-its-all-your-fault/article764486/
- ^ http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/fr/nouvelles/discours/2012/2012-11-14