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The Unknown Huntsman
There’s no shortage of intrigue in this offbeat debut novel by Jean-Michel Fortier: an unnamed village, a strange and anonymous narrator, an unsolved murder, a mysterious huntsman, and a wisdom tooth extraction gone terribly wrong.
The “we” narrator’s rambling and often ironic musings are unsettling at first, and the atmosphere vaguely claustrophobic as the tale shifts back and forth between Monday meetings at the parish hall, where villagers air their petty complaints, and their Friday gatherings shrouded in secrecy and presided over by the enigmatic Professor. A bewitching story full of dark humour and laugh-out-loud absurdity.
The “we” narrator’s rambling and often ironic musings are unsettling at first, and the atmosphere vaguely claustrophobic as the tale shifts back and forth between Monday meetings at the parish hall, where villagers air their petty complaints, and their Friday gatherings shrouded in secrecy and presided over by the enigmatic Professor. A bewitching story full of dark humour and laugh-out-loud absurdity.
162 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2014
1 person is currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Michel Fortier
8 books61 followersJean-Michel Fortier est né à Québec en 1987. Il a étudié la littérature à l'Université Laval et le cinéma à l'Université de Montréal. Ses deux premiers romans,
Le chasseur inconnu
(finaliste au Grand Prix littéraire Archambault 2015) et
Les bains électriques
, ont été traduits en anglais par Katherine Hastings (
The Unknown Huntsman
et
The Electric Baths
). Son troisième roman,
La révolution d'Agnès
, est paru à La Mèche en 2021 et en format poche chez Bibliothèque québécoise en 2024. Son quatrième roman,
Tout me revient maintenant
, a été finaliste au Prix littéraire des collégiens 2025.
Jean-Michel Fortier was born in Quebec City in 1987. He studied literature at Laval University and cinema at the University of Montréal. His debut novel, Le chasseur inconnu (Grand Prix littéraire Archambault 2015 shortlist), and his sophomore novel, Les bains électriques , were translated into English by Katherine Hastings as The Unknown Huntsman and The Electric Baths (Baraka Books). His third novel, La révolution d'Agnès , was published at La Mèche in 2021. His fourth novel, Tout me revient maintenant , was shortlisted for the Prix littéraire des collégiens 2025.
Jean-Michel Fortier was born in Quebec City in 1987. He studied literature at Laval University and cinema at the University of Montréal. His debut novel, Le chasseur inconnu (Grand Prix littéraire Archambault 2015 shortlist), and his sophomore novel, Les bains électriques , were translated into English by Katherine Hastings as The Unknown Huntsman and The Electric Baths (Baraka Books). His third novel, La révolution d'Agnès , was published at La Mèche in 2021. His fourth novel, Tout me revient maintenant , was shortlisted for the Prix littéraire des collégiens 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 10, 2017
This debut novel is published by QC fiction, a publisher from Quebec only in their 3rd year. Clearly both author and publisher (and indeed translator) are to be kept an eye on after this powerful novella.
This is absolutely my sort of book, dark and strange, but equally I appreciate it won't be for everyone. It has an unnamed narrator, takes place in an unnamed village at unspecified time period and has subject matter such as a tooth extraction gone wrong, and an unexplained death and disappearance.
The villagers meet every Monday to aire petty grievances. Though they have a Mayor these meetings are presided over by the Professor, an autocratic character who the villagers greatly admire. It is at times unsettling yet manages that great strength of French (or rather Québécois) noir, that element of dark humour.
It reminds me of Philippe Claudel's Brodeck's Report, which is similarly dark with a mysterious village setting - and high praise indeed, as Brodeck s considered a classic of French noir.
Thanks to Tony's Reading List blog, which is all about translated fiction, for picking this up, it is certainly a good read.
This is absolutely my sort of book, dark and strange, but equally I appreciate it won't be for everyone. It has an unnamed narrator, takes place in an unnamed village at unspecified time period and has subject matter such as a tooth extraction gone wrong, and an unexplained death and disappearance.
The villagers meet every Monday to aire petty grievances. Though they have a Mayor these meetings are presided over by the Professor, an autocratic character who the villagers greatly admire. It is at times unsettling yet manages that great strength of French (or rather Québécois) noir, that element of dark humour.
It reminds me of Philippe Claudel's Brodeck's Report, which is similarly dark with a mysterious village setting - and high praise indeed, as Brodeck s considered a classic of French noir.
Thanks to Tony's Reading List blog, which is all about translated fiction, for picking this up, it is certainly a good read.
September 19, 2025
Lu d'une traite. J'ai eu du gros gros gros fun! Excellent sur toute la ligne.
January 11, 2026
Très curieux, ce petit roman! J’ai eu du plaisir à lire cette absurde histoire et découvrir les personnages rigolos. Toutefois, le manque de clarté me laissait assez perplexe, un peu trop souvent.
Je tiens tout de même à mettre en lumière une expression qui m’a fait rire à voix haute : « […] c’est la cerise qui a fait déborder le vase. »
Je tiens tout de même à mettre en lumière une expression qui m’a fait rire à voix haute : « […] c’est la cerise qui a fait déborder le vase. »
August 7, 2016
A thoroughly enjoyable read (and you may want to re-read it to see what you might have missed the first time) from QC Fiction, and translator Katherine Hastings was performed a worthy service to English readers, for I cannot imagine this book being any more humorous in its original language: all the nuances, idioms and turns of phrases appear to be intact. If you like offbeat, avant-garde humour with a little darkness thrown in, then The Unknown Huntsman will appeal to you.
My full review is here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-EF
My full review is here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-EF
November 29, 2019
What a bizarre little thing. I fell in love.
August 7, 2016
Just finished putting the final touches to Le chasseur inconnu in English. Coming November 2016 as The Unknown Huntsman from QC Fiction, a new imprint of young Quebec authors in translation. More at qcfiction.com.
September 7, 2016
Un premier roman charmant qui mériterait définitivement une seconde lecture.
April 14, 2017
We published this book in November 2016. We love it (obviously). It's an offbeat whodunnit in which everyone knows right from the crime scene exactly who dunnit. Here are a few nice things people have written about it so far:
“A debut novel that deserves a place alongside the best, The Unknown Huntsman breaks with traditional conventions of genre and narration, its avant-garde style bringing an exciting new perspective to Quebec literature.” (Émilie Pilote, Les Méconnus)
“This is an intriguing and original novel, the ending of which does not wrap things up neatly so much as introduce an entirely new level of absurdity.” (Publishers Weekly)
“The absurdity, irony, and dark humour make this an exuberant novel and a compelling read. The Unknown Huntsman is all about voice, which translator Katherine Hastings captures flawlessly. She deftly handles the wordplay, the humour, even the malapropisms. It is pitch perfect, not a word out of place—an accomplishment for this first-time literary translator … This debut novel is highly original, shifting between levity and darkness with a masterful hand.” (Rhonda Mullins, The Malahat Review)
“The Unknown Huntsman is a cracking read, a book you’ll race through, but it certainly provides more questions than answers… With his careful blend of farce and black humour, Fortier has created an entertaining novel which works on several levels.” (Tony’s Reading List)
“An absurdist fable bringing to mind Pirandello, Fortier’s debut is a dark commentary on community and intolerance.” (Jade Colbert, The Globe and Mail)
“A thoroughly enjoyable read… If you like offbeat, avant-garde humour with a little darkness, then The Unknown Huntsman will appeal.” (The Miramichi Reader)
“An intrigue like no other.” (Nightlife.ca)
“A novel oozing with irony (or is it candour?), enigmatic characters, and absurd situations—a real UFO of a book!” (TVA)
“A debut novel that deserves a place alongside the best, The Unknown Huntsman breaks with traditional conventions of genre and narration, its avant-garde style bringing an exciting new perspective to Quebec literature.” (Émilie Pilote, Les Méconnus)
“This is an intriguing and original novel, the ending of which does not wrap things up neatly so much as introduce an entirely new level of absurdity.” (Publishers Weekly)
“The absurdity, irony, and dark humour make this an exuberant novel and a compelling read. The Unknown Huntsman is all about voice, which translator Katherine Hastings captures flawlessly. She deftly handles the wordplay, the humour, even the malapropisms. It is pitch perfect, not a word out of place—an accomplishment for this first-time literary translator … This debut novel is highly original, shifting between levity and darkness with a masterful hand.” (Rhonda Mullins, The Malahat Review)
“The Unknown Huntsman is a cracking read, a book you’ll race through, but it certainly provides more questions than answers… With his careful blend of farce and black humour, Fortier has created an entertaining novel which works on several levels.” (Tony’s Reading List)
“An absurdist fable bringing to mind Pirandello, Fortier’s debut is a dark commentary on community and intolerance.” (Jade Colbert, The Globe and Mail)
“A thoroughly enjoyable read… If you like offbeat, avant-garde humour with a little darkness, then The Unknown Huntsman will appeal.” (The Miramichi Reader)
“An intrigue like no other.” (Nightlife.ca)
“A novel oozing with irony (or is it candour?), enigmatic characters, and absurd situations—a real UFO of a book!” (TVA)
August 12, 2022
J’ai aimé le ton et l’humour… mais sinon, bof. De la chicane de village reclus, un genre de secte, et puis surtout, rien de clair jamais. Ça finit carré sans dénouer les trucs mis en place. Absolument aucune des personnages n’est sympathique. Bref, je me suis demandé tout le long où on s’en allait avec ça et la réponse, finalement, c’était : pas ben, ben loin.
October 11, 2017
Roman un peu trop absurde à mon goût. J’ai accroché au drame et aux deux narrations, mais beaucoup moins à la trame narrative.
August 27, 2021
Étrange petite bête que ce livre; étrange, mais positivement! Récit sombre, baignant dans l’absurde et l’humour noir, qui transpose bien le décor, les personnalités et les idiomes d’un village un peu trop replié sur lui-même. Les personnages et leurs histoires sont éclatés et nous amènent sur un parcours plutôt insoupçonné.
L’écriture est légère, accessible, imagée rythmée. Il s’agit définitivement d’un auteur à découvrir!
L’écriture est légère, accessible, imagée rythmée. Il s’agit définitivement d’un auteur à découvrir!
December 24, 2018
An allegory ~ check
The CNIB actually made this into an audiobook.
This book came up when i searched the CELA Library for allegories. It was short and sweet. I did not understand it - but i might read it again some day.
The CNIB actually made this into an audiobook.
This book came up when i searched the CELA Library for allegories. It was short and sweet. I did not understand it - but i might read it again some day.
July 12, 2017
An intriguing and original novel! Great summer read :)
February 25, 2020
Very interesting!
Read
August 23, 2020Troublant par sa narration, ce roman nous plonge au cœur d’un village où survient un meurtre. Un livre tellement étrange qu’on peut le considérer comme unique en son genre. À découvrir!
September 21, 2020
J’étais intrigué et amusé en cours de lecture. J’ai aimé la dynamique, le vocabulaire et le contexte. Par contre, je ne m’attendais pas à une fin comme celle-là, j’ai été un peu déçu.
November 11, 2021
Un livre étrange qui a décidemment piqué ma curiosité! Le narrateur inconnu a définitevement capté mon attention!
November 9, 2022
Excellent roman, avec une narration originale et une atmosphère des plus réussies.
March 20, 2023
Huis-clos écrit au ''nous'' qui créé sa propre mythologie et offre une lecture qui sort de l'ordinaire.
April 28, 2025
Quel étrange petit biscuit de livre.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews