It is not yesterday that Louis Cornellier lives surrounded by the multiple voices of literature. Avid reader, literature teacher at CEGEP and columnist at the Homework since 1998, it is by dialoguing with the works that his thought is constructed. Emulsion of this dialogue, he published two books, A matter of meaning and Among the greats followed by Little manwhich convene some of the greatest works, from which he outlines his reflection.
The question at the origin of his essay A matter of meaning is first of all existential. Like others before him, he asks himself: “Why is there something rather than nothing? Because it is important to him to give meaning to all of this, he seeks, not without a certain idealism, to inscribe his desire to “elevate himself” in a form of transcendence.
The project is ambitious, but the essayist does not intend to achieve it alone. He calls to the bar some thirty authors whose texts, he hopes, will be able to mark out this winding road: “The literary experience places those who participate in it in a state of alert which makes them attentive to the occurrence of senses. Well aware that it is not a question of reaching the truth, he admits that the act of reading allows us, at best, to feel the meaning. But he remains convinced that “visiting great cultural works, which constitute the treasure of humanity”, is a blessing.
The essayist’s quest is timeless and his outlets must also stand the test of time. Thus he resolutely applies Gilles Vigneault’s warning: “You have to be on your guard at all times so as not to give in to the daily temptation to be of your time. In the run-up, he states the importance of keeping the interpretation of literature open: “Literary truth, if there is one, can therefore only oppose all dogmatism. »
By the repeated call for a literature sheltered from fads and passing customs, one is surprised to find a good number of value judgments which endorse one morality to the detriment of another, sanctioning the characters quoted “Dom Juan, it is clear, is not an example to follow for men and women of goodwill, of yesterday or today. »
Whether we embrace the subject or not, we appreciate the free style of the author who skilfully combines levels of language. Moreover, it is difficult to remain indifferent to this invitation to the happiness of reading, which embroiders a quilt about which many works respond to each other. It is sometimes necessary to look in the fold of the page to find the quotation of works written by women, and most of the authors summoned belong to the canon, but Louis Cornellier invites us to discover their lesser-known texts, among which several short stories appear. He will, without a doubt, be able to rally a few lovers of beautiful letters.
Immortal Voices
Louis Cornellier was not going to stop there. When summoning his favorites, a tribute was missing. So the project of Among the greats followed by Little man took root. A collection of poetry in three parts, the author swaps here prose for verse, offering a few hat-tricks to the authors who have marked him.
Once again, it is important to him to recognize the gift of our predecessors. For Cornellier, life rests on the base of the past: “I would speak / around the fire / of the bitter tears of the apostle / of truth and beauty / of the past which makes us live”.
The project takes the form of poems, independent of each other, which mostly look like short orations, offering a wink, a bow or a summons from beloved authors. Alas, after a few repetitions, the formula ran out of steam and the project, although noble, was unlikely to rouse the dead from their torpor.
We nevertheless retain a few more successful poems, which go beyond simple homage and whose scintillating images shed light on this quest for truth so dear to the author. This is the case, in particular, of this address to Yves Boisvert: “Your eclipse stained glass windows / carried by the balance of the wind / crack the good conscience / thieves of cause”.
As the curtain falls on the collection, the poet transfers his verses to his posture as a man. With simplicity, he depicts some major features of his life, embroidering around a common theme: his small stature. At the height of a man, the proposal remains dull, but it does not seem to claim it. Unpretentious, the gesture is humble.
In search of transcendence, moved by the sensitive charge of literature and driven by the desire to become the best version of himself, Louis Cornellier invites us on his quest through his readings. What remains of his efforts is a pleasant invitation to literature, a deep lesson in humility and an immense respect for culture: “I was a small man / I remained one / in the face of greatness”.