Cover of Maria Chapdelaine

Maria Chapdelaine

by Louis Hémon

First published
1913
Reading level
Plain English
Price
Free

About the book

"Maria Chapdelaine: A Tale of the Lake St. John Country" by Louis Hémon is a romance novel written in 1913. Set in rural Quebec, the story follows Maria after the sudden death of the man she loves. She must choose between two suitors—one offering an exciting life in the city, the other representing the familiar countryside. Written by a French journalist who lived on a Quebec farm gathering stories, this novel became a beloved classic before its author tragically died in a train accident, never knowing of his book's success.

  • Love stories
  • Québecois fiction
  • Québec (Province)
  • French-Canadians
  • Frontier and pioneer life

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #4383. Maria Chapdelaine on Wikipedia.