Jacques Poulin


Jacques Poulin was a Canadian novelist with a quiet and intimate style of writing.

Life and career

Poulin was born in Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Quebec on 23 September 1937. He studied psychology and arts at the Université Laval in Quebec City; he started his career as commercial translator and later became a college guidance counselor. Only after the success of his second novel, Jimmy, was he able to devote himself completely to his writing. Poulin wrote fourteen novels, many of which have been translated into English by Sheila Fischman, and published by Cormorant Books.
He lived in Paris for 15 years, but later moved to Quebec City.
Poulin's Volkswagen Blues was selected as a candidate in the CBC's 2005 edition of Canada Reads, where it was championed by Roch Carrier, author and former National Librarian of Canada.
Poulin died on 21 August 2025, at the age of 87.

Awards and recognition