Robert Charbonneau's main contribution to the development of the novel in Quebec lies in his portrayal of inner conflict in the characters he creates. He was also one of the first writers in Quebec to theorize on the techniques of novel writing. His importance on the Montreal literary scene in the 1930s and 1940s extends beyond his creative writing to include his involvement with the literary review La Relève , his activities in the worlds of journalism, publishing, and broadcasting, and his controversial defense of the autonomy of Quebec literature.

Robert Charbonneau was born to Joseph-Arthur and Alma Robert Charbonneau in Montreal. He spent his early childhood in Farnham, in the Eastern Townships, but returned to Montreal for his education. He studied at the Ecole Saint-Stanislas, the Collège Sainte-Marie, and the Université de Montrél, obtaining a diploma in journalism in 1934. During the...