Alain Grandbois

Canadian poet

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Born:: May 25, 1900, Saint-Casimir, Que., Can.

Died:: March 18, 1975, Quebec (aged 74)

Notable Works:: “Poèmes”

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Alain Grandbois (born May 25, 1900, Saint-Casimir, Que., Can.—died March 18, 1975, Quebec) was a French Canadian poet whose use of unconventional verse forms, abstract metaphors of voyage and death, and colourful imagery influenced younger experimental poets.

Born of a wealthy family, Grandbois traveled widely until World War II forced his return to Canada in 1940. Much of his poetry was originally published in early volumes such as Poèmes (1934) and Les Îles de la nuit (1944; “The Isles of the Night”). Later collections include Poèmes (1963) and Selected Poems (1964), containing both the French originals and English translations. He also wrote biographies of Louis Jolliet, Né à Québec (1948; Born in Quebec), and Marco Polo, Les Voyages de Marco Polo (1942), and a volume of short tales, Avant le chaos (1945; “Before the Chaos”; Eng. trans. Champagne & Opium).

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