Marie-Claire Blais (1939-2021) was a prolific and influential Canadian novelist, playwright, and poet, whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Quebec City, she published her first novel, La Belle Bête (Mad Shadows), at the age of 20, which quickly established her as a formidable voice in Québécois literature. Over her lifetime, Blais authored nearly 30 novels, along with numerous plays, poetry collections, essays, and an autobiography. Talonbooks has published her American Notebooks, a fascinating autobiographical account of the intellectual flowering of a great writer.

Her work is renowned for its exploration of complex themes such as suffering, marginalization, and the human condition, often employing innovative narrative techniques like stream-of-consciousness and shifting perspectives. Blais's ten-volume novel cycle, beginning with Soifs (These Festive Nights), exemplifies her literary experimentation and depth, weaving together a tapestry of interconnected characters and stories that reflect on contemporary social issues.

Throughout her illustrious career, Blais received numerous accolades, including four Governor General's Literary Awards, the Prix Médicis, the Gilles-Corbeil Prize, and two Guggenheim Fellowships. She was also honored as a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de France, recognizing her significant contributions to literature and culture. She was invited, as one of the very few foreigners allowed, to join Belgium's Academy of French Language and Literature.

Blais spent significant periods of her life in both Canada and the United States, particularly in Key West, Florida, where she found inspiration for much of her later work.

David Lobdell served as the translator for Marie-Claire Blais's novel Dürer's Angel, which is the third installment in her Pauline Archange trilogy. His English translation, published by Talonbooks in 1976, played a crucial role in introducing Blais's complex and lyrical prose to an Anglophone audience. Lobdell is recognized for his contributions to Canadian literature through his translations of Québecois fiction. His work on Dürer's Angel stands out as a significant achievement in his career.