Jacques Godbout, a celebrated Canadian author, was born on November 27, 1933, in Montreal, Quebec. He is a multifaceted individual, having pursued various careers as a novelist, essayist, children's writer, journalist, filmmaker, and poet. Godbout has confessed to being a bit of a "dabbler" or touche-à-tout, yet he has become one of the most influential writers of his generation, leaving a lasting impact on post-1960 Quebec intellectual life.
After completing his studies at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf and the Université de Montréal, Godbout taught French in Ethiopia before joining the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) as a producer and scriptwriter in 1958. During this period, he was actively involved in Quebec's Quiet Revolution, writing numerous essays that were later compiled into Le Réformiste (1975) and Le Murmure marchand (1984).
Godbout was a co-founder of several notable organizations, including Liberté (1959),the Mouvement laïque de la langue française (1962),and the Union des écrivains Québécois (1977). His filmography includes four full-length features and over 15 documentaries. Additionally, he has written nine novels for adults and two for children.
Godbout currently writes a monthly column for the Quebec newsmagazine L'actualité. He resides in Outremont, a former city now part of Montreal. Interestingly, he is the grand-nephew of former Quebec Premier Adélard Godbout.
Godbout's novel Une histoire américaine (1986) was selected for the French version of Canada Reads, broadcast on Radio-Canada in 2004, where it was championed by trade-union activist and professor Gérald Larose. On June 30, 2016, Godbout was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston in recognition of his significant contributions to the literary arts and critical thinking for over half a century.
Throughout his illustrious career, Godbout has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec, the Ludger-Duvernay Prize (1973),the 2007 Prix Maurice Genevoix for La concierge du Panthéon, and the 1967 Governor General's Award for Fiction for Salut Galarneau.
