The Influence of a Book (French: L'influence d'un livre, 1837) is a novel by the Canadian writer Phillipe-Ignace François Aubert du Gaspé. It is considered to be the first French Canadian novel, and although the book was not well received initially, it has come to be recognized as a major landmark in Canadian literature.
It is the tale of Charles Amand's quest for gold. Between alchemy, the courtship of his daughter Amélie, the legend of Rose Latulipe and the murder of the peddler Guilmette, there is a satirical theme aimed at spiritual poverty in Quebec.
The Influence of a Book, an English language translation by Claire Rothman, was published in 1993.
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Famous quotes containing the words influence and/or book:
“They tell us that women can bring better things to pass by indirect influence. Try to persuade any man that he will have more weight, more influence, if he gives up his vote, allies himself with no party and relies on influence to achieve his ends! By all means let us use to the utmost whatever influence we have, but in all justice do not ask us to be content with this.”
—Mrs. William C. Gannett, U.S. suffragist. As quoted in History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 5, ch. 8, by Ida Husted Harper (1922)
“The last publicized center of American writing was Manhattan. Its writers became known as the New York Intellectuals. With important connections to publishing, and universities, with access to the major book reviews, they were able to pose as the vanguard of American culture when they were so obsessed with the two Joes—McCarthy and Stalin—that they were to produce only two artists, Saul Bellow and Philip Roth, who left town.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)