Author François Barcelo pens final installment in Polars series
Prominent Quebec author and advertiser François Barcelo, known for his dry wit and absurd humor, passed away on May 25. Born in Montreal in 1941, he was the first Quebecer published in the Gallimard "Serie Noire" collection.
Barcelo's writing career began with several children's books, followed by novels that were noted for their humor, mockery, and absurd contradictions. Agenor, Agenor, Agenor and Agenor, published in 1981, was a significant success and won him praise from renowned author Jacques Ferron, who described it as renewing the tradition of Quebec storytellers.
Barcelo's daughter, Valerie, recalled that he threw away several awards he had won in his early twenties and worked at J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, where he created campaigns for Labatt beer and WonderBra bras. At the age of 40, he devoted himself entirely to writing and continued his travels while working on various projects.
In the mornings, Barcelo would write compulsively and then go for a jog before resuming his writing in the afternoon. He typically kept two or three books in progress, moving from one to another. His books often incorporated personal anecdotes, such as the time he reversed into a Volkswagen without realizing.
One of his most significant works was Cadavres, published in 1998 and adapted for the big screen in 2009. He was also known for his I Hate series, which included four books with themes centered around hatred, caustic style, and humor.
Barcelo's writing was influenced by his family's artistic background. His mother, Blanche Fortin, was the sister of painter Marc-Aurele Fortin, and she, too, wrote a novel under a pseudonym. Barcelo's novels have been translated into various languages and are available in paperback format.
His latest book, L'homme au bout de la corde, was released this spring, and he entrusted the manuscript to a literary agent for the first time. Barcelo died in the hospital on May 25 after being hospitalized for pancreatic cancer. According to a quote from his book, Cadavres, "As long as we're not dead, we don't know if the subject of our life is despair, jealousy, sex, stupidity, revenge, or lies."
The government announced plans to honor François Barcelo posthumously, recognizing his significant contributions to literature and advertising. In entertainment circles, the demise of the celebrated author stirred discussions about the impact of his books and candid humor on celebrities and their fans.
