The paper outlines the linguo-cultural situation in Quebec, the only province in Canada with a francophone majority, depicted in the novels by modern Canadian Anglophone writer Louise Penny. The material investigated makes it possible to question the widespread belief about the mutual dislike between anglophones and francophones based on cultural incompatibility. The long-standing question of Quebec separation is largely based on the francophones' struggle against infringement of their rights, including the right to use their native language. However, L.Penny's novels also reveal anglophones' standpoint, i.e. their concern about the limitation of the scope of using English in Quebec. The numerous discussions on social and political issues lead by the characters reflect the complicated relationship between Anglophones and Francophones, the sources of conflict and accord between the two ‘founding races'.