Jacques Poulin

Jacques Poulin (; 23 September 1937 – 21 August 2025) was a Canadian novelist.

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 (1969), 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 Winner of the Governor General's Award in 1978 for Les grandes marées. Nominated for the Governor General's Award in 1984 for Volkswagen Blues. Nominated for the Governor General's Award in 1989, winner of the Prix Québec-Paris in 1989, the Prix Molson from the Académie des lettres du Québec in 1990 and the Prix France-Québec in 1991 for Le Vieux Chagrin. Winner of the Quebec government's Prix Athanase-David in 1995 Winner of the Molson Prize from the Canada Council in 2000 Winner of the Gilles-Corbeil Prize (Le Nobel québécois) in 2008