La Sagouine was born with the century, her feet in the sea. She is the daughter of a cod fisherman, a sailor's girl, and later the wife of a smelt fisherman, and at age seventy-two she is still working as a cleaning lady. Putting aside her mop and pail, she shares her memories and personal philosophy in a language as salty as the sea air and as colourful as her Acadian neighbours and ancestors.

« [excert from The Pews LA SAGOUINE : So anyway, la Sainte, to his day, has her ribbon 'n her medal. You can bet yer life that, come Saturday night, la Sainte is ironin' her ribbon 'n rubbin' her meal with Saint Joseph's oil. Ah! Sure changed her, bein' a Child-o'-Mary, changed her so much […] but that ain't reason 'nough to carry the fat statue o' the Goretti durin' the procession.[…] »

"A more piercing portrait of the dehumanization (or is it humanization) of poverty would be hard to imagine. Maillet's vignettes all have point, punch and mood - almost plays unto themselves." Pat Donnelly, The Gazette, Montreal, November 6, 1987.