Description

In A History for the Future Jocelyn Létourneau, a leader of the new wave of Quebec intellectuals, examines the hotly debated topics of history and memory in Quebec and Canada. Rather than focus on the past itself, he considers the challenge of turning the past into a narrative that contributes to building a better society, thereby establishing a liberating legacy for that society's heirs. As relatively new societies whose memories and histories are built on European foundations, the interrelated narratives of Quebec and Canadian history provide a rich body of material for such a far-reaching reflection. By investigating the role Quebec's historical narrative plays for contemporary Quebecers, Létourneau shows how interpretations of the past affect a society's future.

A History for the Future will be of interest to all those who reflect on the relationship between memory, giving meaning to the past, writing history, and a society's common aspirations. The original French edition, Passer à l'avenir, won Quebec's Prix Spirale for the best non-fiction book of 2000.