First known European navigator to document extensively his explorations of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (1534) and the St. Lawrence River (1535-36), Jacques Cartier was long considered by Canadian historiography to be the “discoverer”, if not the “founder” of Canada (see Gordon). Born in 1491 at Saint-Malo (Brittany), he had indeed two of the most precious assets one needed to seduce 19th-century Canadian historians in their search for prestigious forefathers: the profile of a hero and detailed writings. While contemporary to François Rabelais’ exuberant novels and André Thevet’s famous cosmographies, Cartier’s travelogues share few of their spectacular features. In fact, they were initially written as confidential accounts for King Francis I, rather than elegant narratives…
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Citation: Côté, Sébastien. "Jacques Cartier". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 March 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13497, accessed 22 November 2024.]
