author
Alfred D. (Alfred Duclos) DeCelles
1843–1925
A longtime guardian of Canada’s Parliamentary Library, he brought together the worlds of journalism, public life, and letters. His work reflects a writer deeply engaged with Canadian history and culture at the turn of the 20th century.
1 Audiobook
The 'Patriotes' of '37: A Chronicle of the Lower Canada Rebellion
by Alfred D. (Alfred Duclos) DeCelles
About the author
Alfred Duclos DeCelles was a Canadian journalist, writer, lawyer, and librarian, born in 1843 and remembered especially for his long service in Ottawa’s Parliamentary Library. He led the library from 1885 to 1920, a remarkable span that placed him at the center of Canada’s intellectual and political life.
Before and alongside that work, he built a varied literary career. He wrote on history and public affairs and was also active in journalism, bringing a clear interest in Canadian institutions and national life to his books and essays. He often signed his work as A. D. DeCelles.
DeCelles died in 1925, but his reputation has endured through both his writing and his role as a steward of one of Canada’s major libraries. For listeners exploring older Canadian nonfiction, he offers a thoughtful voice from a formative period in the country’s cultural history.