François Hertel
François Hertel, born Rodolphe Dube on May 31, 1905, in Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec, was a multifaceted figure in the realms of philosophy, theology, and literature. He received an extensive education, culminating in a Ph.D. from Scolasticat de l'Immaculée Conception, and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1938. Embracing the name François Hertel—after a historical French Canadian soldier—he became known for his contributions as a writer of fiction and poetry, as well as for his teaching and lecturing. Hertel was a controversial figure in mid-twentieth century French Canadian society, admired by some for his humanism and poetic insights, while criticized by others for his volatile temperament and shifting viewpoints. His poetry, notably compared to that of Paul Claudel, is often regarded as among his finest work. Following a personal crisis in 1947, he left the priesthood and relocated permanently to Paris in 1949, where he continued to write and teach for three decades. Despite his notable influence during his lifetime, Hertel's works and legacy have largely faded from contemporary recognition, leaving him an obscure figure today.
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François Hertel
Writer
- Born: May 31, 1905
- Birthplace: Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec, Canada
- Died: October 4, 1985
Biography
François Hertel was born Rodolphe Dube on May 31, 1905, in Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec, Canada, the son of Joseph and Alice (Levesque) Dube. He attended the College de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and the Seminaire de Trois-Rivières, and received a degree in philosophy and theology and Ph.D. from Scolasticat de l’Immaculée Conception. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1938.
François Hertel was the name of a French Canadian soldier and hero who lived from 1642 to 1722. Hertel adopted this as his nom de plume for all of his publications. A philosopher, theologian, priest, and teacher, as well as a writer of fiction and poetry, Hertel was an controversial figure in French Canadian society of the mid-twentieth century. Hertel was praised by some of his contemporaries as a true humanist and an insightful writer, and derided by others for his temperamental outbursts and inconsistent positions. Some observers claim that Hertel’s best work was his poetry; his poems have been compared to those of French poet Paul Claudel for the style and tone of the verse.
In 1947, following a religious crisis in his life, Hertel left the priesthood and established a permanent residence in Paris in 1949, where he published, wrote, taught and lectured for three decades in France, making occasional return visits to his native Quebec. After 1947, his works were devoid of references to God, but still included the concept of a higher power. Although well-known in his lifetime, Hertel and his work are both virtually unknown today