Réal Bélanger, Directeur général adjoint, Awarded Prize for Best Book on Canadian Politics

On 10 April 2014 Réal Bélanger, directeur général adjoint of the Dictionnaire biographique du Canada/Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DBC/DCB), was awarded the 2014 prize given by the Présidence de l’Assemblée Nationale du Québec for his book Henri Bourassa: le fascinant destin d’un homme libre (1868–1914) (Québec, 2013).

Réal Bélanger holds a doctorate in Canadian and Quebec political history. A retired professor from the history department at the Université Laval, he has been the directeur général adjoint of the DBC/DCB since 1998. A specialist in biography, ideologies, and political parties, he has written several scholarly books and articles. In 2012 he received, as co-director of the DBC/DCB, along with his colleague John English, the Governor General’s History Award for Popular Media: the Pierre Berton Prize. According to Jean-François Nadeau, writing in Le Devoir on 18 Dec. 2013, Réal Bélanger has written the “first volume of what appears to be the best biography of Henri Bourassa yet published.”

Since 2003 the Assemblée Nationale has recognized authors of the best books on Quebec politics published during the previous year. Quality and originality are the most important selection criteria. The winners are chosen by a jury comprising three members of the university community who are known for their expertise. This year, the prize, presented at the Salon international du livre de Québec, underlined the exceptional quality of the book Henri Bourassa: le fascinant destin d’un homme libre (1866–1914). The DCB/DBC team congratulates the author on receiving this prestigious award!

To read the media release (French only) issued by the Assemblée Nationale du Québec, click here.

For more information about the book, click here.