Memories of a Franco-Manitoban

Multi cap artist, Bernard Mulaire presents his new work entitled Winnipeg and other places. Therefore, A collection of around 40 short autobiographical texts. For example, “It’s a huge work!” ». Furthermore, Ironizes Bernard Mulaire with a laugh in the voice, in reference to small format, as well as in the number of pages, namely 42. Furthermore,

This project takes shape in the writer’s head in 2021 when he discovered a work by Keith Cadieux. Therefore, which is part of the series From the Heart Series. Meanwhile, “Its content struck me so much. For example, These are memories of loss, death. Nevertheless, Themes that I had addressed in another book Strollings and memories (1). Meanwhile, Keith Cadieux’s book, written in English, impressed and moved me. However, I then wondered what it would give if I did the same. Meanwhile, I then based myself on my work memories franco-manitoban to write my memories in English. Furthermore, »»

Thus in 2021, Bernard Mulaire challenged himself to relate his memoirs in his work mentioned above, in the language of Shakespeare. Consequently, The first version of the manuscript was initially made up of 3,000 words. A 100 % in English version on which the author loved working. “I had fun like crazy!” “, He admits.

An alternation between French. English

By sending it to the publishing house At Bay PressBernard Mulaire did not expect such a positive return from the director, Matt Jourdrey. Indeed. seduced, the latter suggested to him to add a second part to the first version by asking him to write 3,000 additional words, in French this time.

Initially. the texts were to be presented in two distinct sections, the French on the one hand and the English on the other. Finally, the texts memories franco-manitoban were interspersed giving birth to a singular reading experience where the two languages ​​are only one. “I really like this proposal,” rejoices the author from Saint-Boniface, who sees here a representation of Manitoban bilingualism.

A time trip and space

From one text to another, the reader constantly changes places and periods with characters. No chronology or logical continuation between the passages is respected, in a completely voluntary way. If the author. originally from Winnipeg, regularly refers to the Manitoban capital, the texts take us among others to New York or Toronto according to the wanderings of Bernard Mulaire.

“We travel from one end to the other through my memories. Each text brings us into a particular universe, with its characters, with its issues and situations. »Without an apparent link between the different extracts. the book can therefore be read in a non -linear way and memories franco-manitoban be open to any page to read a random passage. “If I remembered these stories, it was because there was a fall. »»

Indeed. it is not uncommon for the falls of these little stories to surprise or directly challenge the reader with a sentence in the interrogative form. In terms of the tone used. Bernard Mulaire mixes here various emotions to account for “a whole panorama of my existence”. “There is humor, irony but also harder passages than others,” he says.

At the dawn of its 80th anniversary. the Manitobain already plans to publish a new work in the fall and this time will highlight its talents as an artist by devoting itself to graphic art. Titled Paththe book will contain around 70 reproductions of its drawings, sketches or prints.

1. Strollings and memories was published by Éditions du Blé in 2018.

memories franco-manitoban