Roch Carrier is one of Canada’s most beloved authors, a master storyteller whose warm, humorous, and deeply human writing has touched generations. From the iconic children’s classic The Hockey Sweater to his poignant adult novels and short-story collections, Carrier’s work captures the soul of Quebec and the Canadian experience like few others.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering him for the first time, this complete Roch Carrier books in order guide will help you navigate his bibliography chronologically and thematically—so you can read his works the way they were meant to be enjoyed.
Why Read Roch Carrier in Order?
While most of Carrier’s books stand beautifully on their own, reading them in publication order lets you trace the evolution of his voice—from playful childhood tales to profound reflections on history, identity, and memory. Let’s dive in.
Roch Carrier Books: Complete List by Series in Chronological Order
Roch Carrier, the renowned Quebecois author celebrated for his poignant tales of childhood, identity, and Canadian life, has penned over 50 works across novels, short stories, children’s books, poetry, plays, and essays. While many of his books stand alone, a few form loose series or trilogies, often interconnected through recurring themes, characters, or settings in rural Quebec villages. Below is a complete list of his major books grouped by series (where applicable), presented in tables for easy reading. Standalone works are grouped under “Standalone Books.”
This guide draws from verified bibliographies up to 2025—no new publications have been noted since 2014. Original French titles are included with English translations (where available) for accessibility. Publication years reflect first editions.
The Sainte-Justine Trilogy (Early Novels)
This semi-autobiographical trilogy explores life in the fictional village of Sainte-Justine, delving into war, love, and community. It’s Carrier’s most famous series.
| Order | Original French Title | English Translation | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La guerre, yes sir! | La Guerre, Yes Sir! | 1968 | Novel |
| 2 | Floralie, où es-tu? | Floralie, Where Are You? | 1969 | Novel |
| 3 | Il est par là, le soleil | Is It the Sun, Philibert? | 1970 | Novel |
Prayers Series (Humorous Coming-of-Age Novels)
A duo of witty, reflective novels on childhood and adolescence, blending faith, mischief, and Quebecois folklore.
| Order | Original French Title | English Translation | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prières d’un enfant très très sage | Prayers of a Very Wise Child | 1991 | Novel |
| 2 | Prières d’un adolescent très très sage | Prayers of a Young Man | 1998 | Novel |
Standalone Books
The majority of Carrier’s oeuvre consists of standalone works, including poetry, short stories, children’s tales, and memoirs. Here’s the full chronological list:
| Year | Original French Title | English Translation | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Jolis deuils: Petites tragédies pour adultes | – | Short Stories |
| 1973 | Le deux-millième étage | They Won’t Demolish Me! | Short Stories |
| 1975 | Le jardin des délices | The Garden of Delights | Novel |
| 1977 | Il n’y a pas de pays sans grand-père | No Country Without Grandfathers | Short Stories |
| 1979 | Les Enfants du bonhomme dans la lune | The Hockey Sweater and Other Stories | Short Stories/Children’s |
| 1980 | Les voyageurs de l’arc-en-ciel | The Rainbow Voyage | Children’s Book |
| 1980 | Céleste bicyclette | The Celestial Bicycle | Children’s Book |
| 1981 | La dame qui avait des chaînes aux chevilles | Lady with Chains | Short Story |
| 1982 | Le cirque noir | – | Novel |
| 1984 | Ne faites pas mal à l’avenir | Don’t Hurt the Future | Children’s Book |
| 1984 | De l’amour dans la ferraille | Heartbreaks Along the Road | Short Stories |
| 1985 | La fleur et autres personnages | Flowers and Other People | Short Stories |
| 1988 | Un chameau en Jordanie | A Camel in Jordan | Travel/Essay |
| 1989 | Enfants de la planète | Children of the Planet | Children’s Book |
| 1991 | L’homme dans le placard | The Man in the Closet | Children’s Book |
| 1991 | Le canot dans les nuages | Canoe in the Clouds | Children’s Book |
| 1994 | Fin | The End | Children’s Book |
| 1996 | Petit homme tornade | The Lament of Charlie Longsong | Novel |
| 1999 | Une chaise | A Chair | Short Story |
| 2004 | Les moines dans la tour | Monks in the Tower | Novel |
| 2009 | L’homme dans le chandail de laine | The Man in the Woollen Sweater | Memoir |
| 2014 | Montcalm et Wolfe | Montcalm and Wolfe | Historical Essay/Novel |
Roch Carrier Books in Publication Order
1. J’ai mon voyage (1963) – Poetry
Carrier’s literary debut is a poetry collection that already shows his sharp ear for everyday Quebec French and his gentle irony.
2. La guerre, yes sir! (1968) – Novel
English title: La Guerre, Yes Sir! His explosive first novel—a dark, satirical masterpiece about a wake in a small Quebec village during the Second World War and the tensions between French and English Canada. A cornerstone of Quebec literature.
3. Floralie, Where Are You? (1969) – Novel
Original title: Floralie, où es-tu ? A surreal, tragicomic road trip newlyweds take on their wedding night. Often published alongside La Guerre, Yes Sir! in English translation.
4. Le deux-millième étage (1970) – Short Stories
A collection that showcases Carrier’s gift for blending the absurd with the deeply moving.
5. The Hockey Sweater (1979) – Children’s Book
Original title: Le chandail de hockey. The book that made Roch Carrier a household name across Canada. This short, perfect story about a young Quebec boy who receives a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater instead of a Montreal Canadiens one is now a cultural treasure. (You’ve probably seen the NFB animated film!)
6. Les voyageurs de l’arc-en-ciel (1980) – Children’s Book
A delightful tale of friendship and imagination.
7. The Longest Home Run (1984) – Children’s Book
Another heartwarming sports story with Carrier’s signature humor.
8. Le jardin des délices (1985) – Novel
A lush, lyrical work exploring love, desire, and memory.
9. De l’amour dans la ferraille (1986) – Short Stories
Tender and funny stories set in the world of scrap metal and human connection.
10. The Hockey Sweater and Other Stories (1986) – Collection
A must-have English edition that includes the title story plus other gems like “The Machine for Detecting Everything We Can’t See” and “A Small One Will Do.”
11. Heartbreaks Along the Road (1987) – Novel
Original title: Le coeur de la baleine bleue (sometimes translated as The Blue Whale’s Heart). A beautiful, bittersweet novel about a village that discovers a beached whale—a metaphor for grief, wonder, and community.
12. Prayers of a Very Wise Child (1991) – Novel
Original title: Prières d’un enfant très très sa.A moving portrait of childhood faith and innocence.
13. Our Life with the O’Hare’s (1993) – Children’s Book
A charming story of cross-cultural friendship.
14. The Lament of Charlie Longsong (1998) – Novel
A poignant, lyrical novel about memory, exile, and belonging.
15. No Country Without Grandfathers (1999) – Short Stories
Original title: Il n’y a pas de pays sans grand-p.ère One of his most beloved later collections—tender, funny, and deeply nostalgic.
16. The End of the World (2001) – Children’s Book
A whimsical tale about a boy who believes the world is ending… tomorrow.
17. A Child in Prison Camp (2003) – Illustrated Memoir (with Sheila Fischman)
Based on his mother’s experiences as a Japanese-Canadian child interned during WWII—an important, lesser-known work.
18. The Man in the Woollen Sweater (2009) – Memoir
Original title: L’homme dans le chandail de hockey A reflective, personal look back at the impact of The Hockey Sweater and Carrier’s own life.
19. Montreal: The City That Reads Him (2018) – Later reflections
A beautiful tribute to the city that shaped him.
Recommended Reading Paths
For new readers just discovering Roch Carrier:
- Start with The Hockey Sweater (it’s short, perfect, and quintessentially Canadian)
- Then The Hockey Sweater and Other Stories
- Move to La Guerre, Yes Sir! and Heartbreaks Along the Road
For Quebec literature enthusiasts:
Focus on the early trilogy/novels:
- La Guerre, Yes Sir!
- Floralie, Where Are You?
- Le jardin des délices
- Heartbreaks Along the Road
For children (or the child in you):
- The Hockey Sweater
- The Longest Home Run
- Our Life with the O’Hare’s
- The End of the World
Final Thoughts: Why Roch Carrier Still Matters
More than fifty years after his debut, Roch Carrier’s writing feels timeless. He writes about small moments—hockey sweaters, village wakes, beached whales—with such tenderness and humor that they become universal.
His books remind us that identity, language, childhood, and memory are fragile, funny, and worth celebrating.
So grab a warm drink, pull on your favorite sweater (Canadiens or not), and start reading Roch Carrier in order. You’ll be glad you did.
Happy reading, fellow book lovers! 🏒📚
Which Roch Carrier book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to know!
