The University of Lyon provided the medical foundation for Andrée Yanacopoulo, a figure who transitioned from clinical practice to a multifaceted career in sociology, literature, and biography. Settling in Quebec in 1960, she balanced roles as an academic instructor and an editor, leaving a diverse body of published work that spanned medical history, personal memoir, and social analysis.
Academic and Teaching Career
After completing her medical education in France, Yanacopoulo relocated to Canada. Her academic involvement began in 1961 at the Université de Montréal, where she served as a professor of sociology until 1964. She continued her teaching career at Collège Sainte-Marie and the Université du Québec à Montréal, positions she held until 1973. Her final academic tenure took place at the Cégep de Saint-Laurent, where she taught until her retirement in 1989.
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Beyond her institutional teaching roles, Yanacopoulo engaged in significant editorial and literary projects. She co-directed the Délire collection at Parti Pris editions alongside Nicole Brossard for six years. Her bibliography includes an array of biographical works and essays, such as her 1992 study on Hans Selye and her 2009 biography of Henri F. Ellenberger. She also contributed to the field of translation, rendering works by Lynn Shanan and Elizabeth Loftus into French. In 1993, she was a finalist for the Governor General's Award for her essay work.
Investigation of Hubert Aquin
A notable focus of her writing career involved her former partner, the writer Hubert Aquin. Following his death, she authored Signé Hubert Aquin: Surcule sur suicide d'écrivain, released in 1985 in collaboration with Gordon Sheppard. This work served as an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his suicide. She maintained her connection to the publishing industry later in life, serving as an editor for the publishing house Vanishing Point.
Fast facts
- Born: 1927, Tunis
- Died: 27 August 2025, Montreal
- Education: University of Lyon
- Primary Occupations: Physician, writer, essayist
- Citizenship: Canada
- Notable Publication: Hans Selye or the Cathedral of Stress (1992)
- Academic Tenure: Université de Montréal (1961–1964)
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Andrée Yanacopoulo write about?
Her writings covered diverse subjects, including the life of Hans Selye, multiple sclerosis research, the history of Quebecois women, and a biographical investigation into Hubert Aquin.
Where did she teach?
She taught at the Université de Montréal, Collège Sainte-Marie, the Université du Québec à Montréal, and the Cégep de Saint-Laurent.
Achievements
- Held posts at Université de Montréal
- Fields: essay
