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The 62-year-old writer grew up in Petit-Goâve, in Haiti, immigrated to Canada in 1976 and lived in Quebec. His induction speech touched on a theme that is often present in his work — exile.

During a news conference, Couillard praised Laferrière for his work. The premier, who was on a short break from a trade mission in Rome, said that while he is not a fan of fictional literature, he did read L’enigme de retour with much interest. He also said he hoped the honour bestowed on Laferrière will give Quebecers the taste to “speak our language well” and to pass that on to children through proper teaching.

Laferrière later told reporters he was most proud of “being a writer” and recalled his earliest days as a penniless scribe in Montreal, and “the pleasure in being in a small room while it snowed outside, and we couldn’t go out, and leaning over a typewriter attempting to write a novel.”