"Yvon Rivard embraces the cyclical nature of life and death in his artistic journey of self-discovery"

Veteran Writer Yvon Rivard Releases Thought-Provoking Essay on Peace and Violence

At 80 years old, Yvon Rivard, a seasoned writer from Quebec, has released a new book titled "Death, Life Always Renewed: An Essay on the Beyond of Violence." This collection of essays, some previously unpublished, addresses topics such as death, violence, others, and secularism, and serves as an invitation to take a step back and really look at the world around us, without ever turning away.

Rivard, who considers himself an "aérien," or someone who feels like they have fallen from the sky, started his writing career as a "romantic writer trying to heal himself." Over the years, he has published several books, including novels and essays, and found himself increasingly drawn to social issues and activism, an unusual path for someone who typically becomes involved in activism at a younger age.

In his new book, Rivard emphasizes the importance of maintaining a face-to-face relationship with the world to prevent violence. He suggests that to achieve peace, we must marry action and contemplation, as proposed by Victor Hugo in his preface to Contemplations. Rivard admits being influenced by Georges Bernanos, a writer who was able to think about the future without ruining the past.

The book's preoccupations are increasingly marked by "the concern for the other," with topics such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza being addressed. Rivard expresses admiration for writers Jean-Pierre Issenhuth and Jean Béдard, whom he refers to as "terriens," and mentions Fernand Dumont, Pierre Vadeboncœur, and Gaston Miron, great artisans of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, who denounced religious sclerosis and nourished their spirituality with social struggles.

Rivard believes that a new generation in Quebec is realizing the importance of addressing social issues to avoid repeating past mistakes. He states that those who survive, such as Georges Bernanos and Simone Weil, did not let themselves be blinded by religions, ideologies, or philosophies.

In the book, Rivard recalls two great questions that traverse and summarize his new work: "Why do men, so alone in the universe, quarrel among themselves and go so far as to kill each other?" and "How is it possible that great culture has never prevented barbarism?"

Rivard does not provide any new information about his upcoming novel about cats, which will take into account the social dimension of existence, or his dream of creating a multigenerational reflection group. However, it is clear that these projects will continue to explore the themes of others, society, and violence that are central to his work.

While Rivard finds himself caught up by the temptation to do something else that, in his view, would have more "consequences," he remains committed to using his writing to provoke thought and inspire action. "Death, Life Always Renewed" is composed of dense, profound yet clear texts and essays that express both a worldview and a poetics, and serve as a reminder of the power of words to shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.

"Yvon Rivard embraces the cyclical nature of life and death in his artistic journey of self-discovery"