(Quebec) Jean-François Roberge tackles the world of pirates with great “accuracy”. In his first book for adults, Abordages, the French language minister arranges his story between a historical novel and swashbuckling adventures, “reminiscent of The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas, according to his publisher.
Published at 1:29 p.m. Updated at 1:43 p.m
Mr. Roberge, already the author of an essay (And if we reinvented school?) and two children’s novels (Francis Lost in the Meanders and Francis the Undaunted), will add a stone to his work this Tuesday by writing a novel for is releasing Adults at an independent bookstore in Quebec. Prime Minister François Legault, a great reader, will be present on the occasion.
According to Éditions Pierre Tisseyre, Abordages is an “unclassifiable” story that is “in line with the great classics.” As points of comparison, the publisher cites, among others, the work of Alexandre Dumas, but also Les Pardaillan by Michel Zévaco and Le Captain Fracasse by Théophile Gautier.
Abordages will also be an opportunity for Mr. Roberge to portray piracy, “whose true nature has for too long been obscured by Hollywood stereotypes,” it says. The CAQ minister began writing his book in 2018 but spoke about it to La Presse in 2015.
“A nice big brick, I think. It is embryonic. Maybe it will never be published… But it is a novel set in the 18th century, in the Caribbean, with pirates, corsairs, privateers,” he explained at the time.
According to a brief summary of the story, it is written that readers will ultimately follow Rudy to the city of Cadiz in Spain in 1718, where he sees in the distance the sails of a galleon commanded by his father, the senator. He then wonders “whether his own life will consist of these long journeys for the glory of Spain and the happiness of the nobles.”
“He has no idea that his future under the pirate flag awaits him far away in the West Indies, where a series of extraordinary events will transform him into a freedom-loving man who will stand against the colonialist dictates of his team,” the publisher summarizes.