Les Débuts de l'imprimerie en Langue Grecque au Québec

Abstract

While the Greek-language journalistic press is linked with Greek immigration to Québec, the earliest publication of books in Greek was undertaken by French-language educational institutions. The first volume to be printed entirely in Greek was an anonymous text-book entitled Eklekta Mythistorias (Mythological Excerpts), published in Montreal in 1837. It was followed later that year by a grammar of classical Greek for use of the Collège de Montréal. The author of these two volumes, an Irish Sulpician named John Larkin, most probably had some knowledge of Modern Greek. These two texts occupy an important place in the history of Greek studies in Québec; they helped lay the groundwork for a favourable public perception of Greek immigration.