Claire Martin (1914-2014) is the pseudonym of Claire Montreuil. Born in Québec City, she studied with the Ursulines and the Dames de la Congrégation. She won the Prix du Cercle du livre de France for her first book, a collection of short stories called Avec ou sans amour (1958). This was followed by two novels, Doux-Amer (1960) and Quand j'aurai payé ton visage (1962). Her two autobiographical books, Dans un gant de fer (1965) and La Joue droite (1966) confirmed her reputation and won her the Prix du Québec, the Prix France-Québec and the Governor General's Award. Her style focuses on love, its risks and "illnesses" and a sharp denunciation of prejudice and social conventions. Her work is characterized by pure, beautifully crafted language, plus a fine irony that in her autobiography is sometimes pitiless. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984 in recognition for being "one of the most important writers of her generation in Canada.”
