This translation into English of Alain Dubuc’s Portrait de famille is an explosive critique that questions the viability of both Québec and the entirety of Canada over the long term. Arguing that the Québécois see themselves through a set of homemade myths developing out of the Quiet Revolution, Dubuc sets about analyzing to what extent these myths are true. How does Québec really stack up culturally, educationally and economically, especially in relation to the other provinces and on the global stage? Many of the hard facts and statistics gathered are eye-opening for us all: Quebec and Canada itself are doing pretty well, Dubuc says, but an economic and social crisis is looming and strong action is needed. Certainly, La Presse’s editorial writer Alain Dubuc knows how to puncture a balloon with the best of them.

Alain Dubuc, a federalist in politics, obtained a master of science in economics at the Université de Montréal, where he was also a researcher in economics from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, he became a La Presse columnist specializing in economics. From 1985 to 1988, he hosted the weekly television show Questions d’argent on Radio-Québec (now Télé-Québec) on economics and personal finances. In 1988, Dubuc was appointed chief editorialist of La Presse, a position he held until 2001. He was president and editor of the daily Le Soleil in Québec from 2001 to 2004. A renowned speaker, Dubuc has accumulated many journalism awards throughout his career. He was inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011. He is also Visiting Fellow at CIRANO, the Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations.

Alain Dubuc's profile page

Nigel Spencer's work includes acting, directing, teaching, educational research and training, journalism, subtitling and co-scripting films, as well as script-doctoring.

He taught the first bilingual graduate course on Comparative Canadian Dramaturgy (l'Université de Sherbrooke), and a performance-based course on Shakespeare at the State University of New York (Plattsburgh).

He has published six books of translated work by Marie-Claire Blais, including Thunder and Light, Augustino and the Choir of Destruction, and Mai at the Predators' Ball, which earned him three Governor General's Literary Awards for Translation.

His theatre translations include three plays by Evelyne de la Chenelière, one of which, September, will be produced by Canadian Stage in Toronto in 2020.

Nigel Spencer's profile page