UBC librarian emeritus Joseph Jones talks to Joseph Planta about the translation he’s just published of Hubert Aquin’s Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands (Ronsdale Press, 2009); they also discuss Aquin’s life, his place in Quebec culture, and more.

Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands by Hubert Aquin; Translated by Joseph Jones. (Ronsdale Press, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Shifting Sands

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

We look at the life of the novelist and activist, Hubert Aquin now. The Quebec born writer died in 1977, but his work remains oft-studied and discussed. In 2003, his novel Next Episode, the English translation of Prochaine épisode was the winner of the Canada Reads thing on CBC Radio. Now, his novella, Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands is translated for the first time in a bilingual edition. Marie-Claire Blais, says that this novella is worthy of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Joseph Jones joins me now to discuss Aquin and this book. Mr. Jones is librarian emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Originally from the Carolinas, he was in Quebec during the October Crisis. He’s long been interested in Aquin’s life and work. He found this novella in its original manuscript form and translated it. It’s published by Ronsdale Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joseph Jones; Good morning, Mr. Jones.

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