When Canada Was New France

This sweeping history of Canada begins with Jacques Cartier's voyage into the Gulf and up the St. Lawrence, where he meets Indigenous peoples, claims new lands for France, and first hears the name "Canada." From there, the story follows Samuel de Champlain, the practical dreamer who helps found Port Royal and Quebec, allies with Huron and Algonquin forces, and pushes French influence deep into the interior through the fur trade, missionary work, and exploration of the Great Lakes. Along the way, the book evokes the courage, hardship, and ambition that shaped New France, from Cartier's winters to Champlain's battles and journeys. The narrative then widens to include Joliet, Marquette, Radisson, and the struggle for control of the inland waterways and trade routes that linked the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence. It builds toward the great imperial contest between France and Britain, culminating in Wolfe's daring ascent of the cliffs at Quebec, the battle on the Plains of Abraham, and the deaths of both Wolfe and Montcalm. Yet the fall of Quebec is not the end: Levis's counterattack and the final collapse of French power reveal a larger, harder fight for Canada's future. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.