Gabrielle Roy

The French-Canadian author Gabrielle Roy was born in Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Canada in 1909. After training to become a teacher, she taught at rural schools. She then spent time in Europe writing but was forced to return to Canada after WWII. In 1945, Roy published her first novel, Bonheur d’occasion. The book was published in English as The Tin Flute in 1947. The Tin Flute won numerous awards in the United States and Canada and sold more than three-quarters of a million copies in the U.S. alone. Roy’s 1954 novel, Alexandre Chenevert, also brought her critical acclaim. Roy is considered one of the most influential Canadian authors.