Background
Louis Hemon was born in Brest, France.
Louis Hemon was born in Brest, France.
In Paris Louis Hemon was enrolled in the Montaigne and Louis-le-Grand secondary schools. A bilingual secretary in several maritime agencies, he collaborated, starting from 1904, in a Parisian sports journal. After his studies of law and oriental languages in the Sorbonne, he moved to London.
In 1911, he moved to Canada, settling initially in Montreal. Hémon wrote Maria Chapdelaine during his time working at a farm in the Lac Saint-Jean region.
Hémon died when he was struck by a train at Chapleau, Ontario. He never saw the widespread publication of his landmark novel.
Hémon had one daughter, Lydia-Kathleen, from a relationship in England with Lydia O'Kelly.