À la conquête de la haute ville

Fanette #1

by Suzanne Aubry

1849. Chemin du Roy. Une fillette passe à un cheveu d'être piétinée par le cheval du boghei d'Emma Portelance, une femme avant-gardiste de Québec. Constatant son état pitoyable, Emma ramène l'enfant chez elle pour la soigner. Deux ans auparavant, Fanette a dû s'exiler avec sa famille pour échapper à la famine qui sévissait en Irlande. Devenues orphelines, Fanette et sa sœur aînée, Amanda, sont placées chez des cultivateurs, où elles mènent une vie misérable. Pour améliorer son sort, Amanda part avec un négociant en promettant à Fanette de revenir la chercher, mais elle disparaîtrait mystérieusement. Après des mois d'attente, Fanette s'enfuit et rencontre Emma sur le chemin du Roy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, France

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down. Gives the reader a good idea of conditions at the start of the Irish famine and the hardships suffered by a family in Ireland as well as in Canada. Although set in the 1800s it brings into focus the hardships of refugees today.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fanette is a historical fiction novel which begins with the O’Brennan family fleeing their beloved homeland of Ireland during the potato blight. It follows the life of the youngest daughter, Fanette, as an immigrant in 19th century Quebec.
I was hooked immediately by the first scene when Ian O’Brennan called out to his daughter, “Fhionnuala! He was addressing her in their native gaelic. It was so endearing and also foretelling. Fhionuala’s name changes to Fanette as it’s easier to pronounce in French and the family faces major challenges as they embark on a new life in Quebec.
I was drawn to this novel because of my Irish and French Canadian roots, however I think this story has a universal appeal of the human spirit overcoming adversity. It’s filled with many surprising twists and turns. The author developed each character well; with the empathetic and dynamic Emma Portelance who takes Fanette under her wing and the villainous Louis Grandmont, to name a few. Overall, an excellent read!
This book was written originally in French. I read the English translation and it was very good. I have read the next two volumes in French and am awaiting to read Volume 2 in English.

[JulieG_Quebec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon billet sur Jules se livre ici: http://booki-net.blogspot.ca/2014/07/...

[Mimi_here · Rating 5 out of 5]

super!!