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At the twilight of the nineteenth century, nestled behind Montreal's puritanical facade of steeples and stained glass, a sinister underworld thrived, preying on the vulnerable and desperate. In this unforgiving environment, two sisters, Eugénie and Saraphine, find themselves adrift and alone, forced to navigate a world fraught with danger and violence.
Their lives take a devastating turn just days after their mother's funeral when their father abandons them in a reckless pursuit of British Columbia gold. With nowhere else to turn, the sisters seek refuge with their aunt and uncle. Desperate to contribute, Eugénie starts working alongside her uncle at the butcher shop, where she meets Orance, the robust and seemingly kind son of the shop's owner. Yet tragedy strikes again, thrusting Eugénie into a role she is ill-prepared for, but one she must accept to ensure her family's survival.
Driven by desperation, Eugénie marries Orance, becoming the butcher's wife, only to find herself trapped in an abusive and oppressive relationship. The sisters, relying solely on each other, escape to a friend's home, only to be ensnared by betrayal and deceit. Lured into Montreal's grim sex trade, they are confined to one of the city's most notorious bordellos. In this grim setting, the sisters cling to their dreams of a better life, fighting to survive against all odds.
"Griffintown Sisters" is a harrowing tale of family, resilience, loss, and the harsh realities of love in a world where survival comes at a steep price.
About the author
Emile is a first-time novelist and holds a master's degree in sociology. In addition to receiving the FCAR and SSHRC fellowships, he was also awarded the Everett C. Hughes Medal for Sociology and Anthropology.Together with his wife, Emile lives on what used to be a dairy farm, nestled somewhere in the many cornfields of Eastern Ontario, where they tend to their twenty-four acres of heaven and labour to finish renovating their old, old house.
