Manitoba's French-Language Crisis: A Cautionary Tale

By Raymond M. Hebert and Raymond Hébert

An analysis of the dramatic events that overturned a century of discrimination against Franco-Manitobans.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0773527907
• ISBN13: 9780773527904
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.6" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Manitoba's latest linguisitic crisis

As is often the case in such matters, Manitoba's linguistic crisis of the 70's and 80's started with the issuance of a rather prosaic parking ticket, placed on the vehicle of a man who thought that it might be time to redress a longstanding linguistic grievance in the land of Louis Riel. Mr. Hebert leads his readers through a complex set of facts, featuring a sometimes bewildering cast of players who, more often than not seem to playing against rather than with their respective teams. He nevertheless succeeds in telling the story in a readable and compelling manner. He highlights the heros and the vilans of this drama with the balanced eye of the academic. Mr. Hebert also reveals a shameful side of Manitoba's "outback" where old prejudices are thinly papered over by a veneer of false politeness. It is not often than an academic text reads as easily as a thriller. Mr. Hebert acheived this and the result is a very readable and informative book.

Truly a cautionary tale

Raymond Hebert engages as well as educates in his ironic and well-researched 'cautionary tale' of Manitoba's French-Language crisis of the 1980's. The reader should not see this book as 'just history' however, since history has a bad habit of repeating itself. The prejudice, ignorance, apathy and just plain bungling evident in the events related to this story continue in varying degrees today - not only in Manitoba, but around the world - not only in the French-English 'debate' but in any debate, spoken or otherwise, dealing with issues of human rights, human dignity and respect.This well researched, scholarly account is accessible to all readers with an interest in human interaction. Hebert's style is personable and involved even while he presents 'the facts'. His personal presence during this time in Manitoba's history and numerous quotes allow him to bring the reader to a front row seat. Hebert's voice is clear, intelligent and ironic. A highly recommended read!