Lecture – La Corriveau: Constructing a Witch in the 18th and 19th Centuries

From history to legend, immerse yourself in the mysteries of Marie-Josephte Corriveau

La Corriveau is a fascinating figure who has inhabited Québec’s collective memory for generations. Based on a legal incident with a tragic turn, the story of Marie-Josephte Corriveau has been told, retold, and gradually distorted, going on to become one of Québec’s most famous legends, to the point where it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. How many husbands was she convicted of murdering? Was she alive or dead when she was placed in a forbidding iron cage at a bustling intersection in Côte-du-Sud? What is the source of the allegations of witchcraft that soon tarnished her memory?

This lecture invites you to explore the mysteries of her story through the historical context of the time, while analyzing the impact her legend has had on Québec culture.

Catherine Ferland

Catherine Ferland is a professional historian, lecturer, and specialist on the cultural history of Québec. Since 2003, she has written or edited several books, manuals, reports, specialized articles, and general audience texts, in addition to contributing to Radio-Canada, Le Devoir, and MAtv on a regular basis. She is president of Services Vita Hominis and founder of the Rendez-vous d’histoire de Québec.

Not to be missed!