L'eglise, Les Liberaux Et L'etat : Les Livres de Jeunesse Publies Par Mame Dans Le Bas-Canada Du Milieu Du 19E Siecle (Essay‪)‬

SUMMARY The study of the importation and use of children's books in Canada from 1840 to 1850 that were published in France by Mame, a Catholic publisher, offers a window on social and cultural history. Three groups took responsibility for disseminating these works: the Church, mainly through the intermediary of the Sulcipians; the liberal bookstore Fabre, supplier both to churches and to liberals who used them for matters not related to religion; and finally the state, through its efforts (particularly by P.J.O. Chauveau) to ensure that schools convey a common culture and an outlook on the modern world. Books published by Mame were at the heart of these efforts and served an evolving society that did not want to be bound to the Church--but only after passing through a methodical governmental selection process. Thus the little Mame books, in their polymorphic uses, escaped the culture of Catholicism and reveal tensions that existed at the core of Canadian society.