Canadian writer from Quebec (born 1951)
François Gravel (born October 4, 1951) is a Canadian writer from Quebec. Most noted as an author of literature for children and young adults, he has also published a number of adult novels.
An economics graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Gravel taught economics at Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu until 2006. He is the partner of writer Michèle Marineau and the father of writer and illustrator Élise Gravel.
His most recent adult novel, "À vos ordres, colonel Parkinson!", was inspired by his own recent diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. This book is available in an English translation titled "Colonel Parkinson in Charge: A Wry Reflection on My Incurable Illness" (House of Anansi Press, 2023), translated by Shelley Pomerance.
Many of his works have been translated into English by Sheila Fischman.
Awards.
He won the Governor General's Award for French-language children's literature at the 1991 Governor General's Awards for "Deux heures et demie avant Jasmine". He has been shortlisted for the award five other times: at the 1994 Governor General's Awards for "Klonk", at the 2000 Governor General's Awards for "L'été de la moustache", at the 2002 Governor General's Awards for "David et la maison de la sorcière", at the 2008 Governor General's Awards for "Sales crapauds" and at the 2012 Governor General's Awards for "Hò".
Fischman has received three nominations for the Governor General's Award for French to English translation for her translations of Gravel's work at the 1990 Governor General's Awards for "Benito", the 1992 Governor General's Awards for "Felicity's Fool (Bonheur fou)" and the 1996 Governor General's Awards for "Ostende".
Gravel won the French Mr. Christie's Book Award in 1991 for "Zamboni", and in 2001 for "David et le fantôme" in conjunction with illustrator Pierre Pratt. Gravel and Pratt won the French TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2006 for "David et le salon funéraire".
His adult novel "Adieu, Betty Crocker" was a competing title in the 2014 edition of "Le Combat des livres", where it was defended by actress Pauline Martin.
References.
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