author

Arsène Bessette

1873–1921

A Quebec journalist and novelist from the turn of the 20th century, he is best remembered for a bold, satirical voice that pushed against the limits of his literary world. His work still stands out for its independence, wit, and refusal to flatter convention.

1 Audiobook

Le débutant

Le débutant

by Arsène Bessette

About the author

Born in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, on December 20, 1873, Arsène Bessette became known as a journalist and writer in Montreal. He died there on June 21, 1921.

He is chiefly remembered for the novel Le Débutant, published in 1914. The book has often been noted for its satirical edge and for the way it reflects tensions within Quebec literary and cultural life of the period.

Although he is not as widely known today as some of his contemporaries, Bessette remains an interesting figure in early modern Quebec literature: a sharp observer, a controversial voice in his time, and a writer whose reputation endures through a small but distinctive body of work.