At the age of 20, Marie-Claire Blais became widely known in Quebec as a novelist, and her literary reputation quickly spread to the United States and France. Her poetic ability, the mythical settings she creates, and perception of modern characters and circumstances are examined in her novels. The novels discussed include: La Belle Bete,
Une Saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel , Manuscrits de Pauline Archange , Le Sourd dans la ville, and Visions d'Anna .