Home Truths: Selected Canadian Stories

Sixteen stories that look back at the country Gallant left behind. This is the collection that won the Governor General’s Award in 1981 and reminded Canadian readers that one of their finest writers had been living in Paris for thirty years.

Why This One

If you want the Canadian Gallant rather than the European one, start here. These stories are divided into three sections: stories about Canadians abroad, stories set in Montreal, and the semi-autobiographical Linnet Muir sequence. The Linnet Muir stories are among her best work, following a young woman returning to Montreal after the war and trying to build an independent life in a city that has not changed as much as she has.

What to Expect

The tone is sharper and more personal than Paris Stories. Gallant writes about Canada with the clear-eyed affection of someone who knows a place well enough to see its limitations. The Montreal stories capture a bilingual, class-conscious city in vivid detail. The writing is precise and unsentimental, with flashes of dark humor.