Gil Courtemanche pulls novel from prize list
Quebec author Gil Courtemanche has demanded that his book, Je ne veux pas mourir seul, be removed from the nomination list for the Archambault Prize for Literature. He pulled the novel to show solidarity with striking workers at the Journal de Montréal, the newspaper owned by Pierre Karl Péladeau, who also owns the Archambault chain of retail stores. From the CBC.ca:
In a statement published in French on Tuesday, Courtemanche said Péladeau’s attitude towards the Journal de Montréal conflict has been characterized by “contempt, arrogance and the relentless pursuit of profit.”
Courtemanche said, despite being pleased by the nomination, he wants his book removed from this year’s $10,000 prize list.
The author of A Sunday in Kigali says writing is an “act of freedom” and he cannot accept that his name or any of his books be associated with the Quebecor “empire” which tramples such freedom.
Courtemanche ends by urging other nominees to follow his lead, to show their support for Journal de Montréal workers.
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