Book description
Samuel de Champlain has long been known as the founder of Quebec
and as a tireless explorer. No one knows for sure where he was born or
who he really was. Still, his career was packed with interesting
details and his early life prepared him for greatness.
Without Champlains own detailed records, the years 1600 to 1640 in
Canada would be almost a mystery. Possibly Canadas first multicultural
advocate, he dreamed of creating a new people from French and
Aboriginal roots. However, his efforts to establish a colony
encountered setbacks in France. Among his detractors was the powerful
Cardinal Richelieu. Champlain was not of the nobility and thus was
considered unfit for patronage.
The explorers story is an exciting one, as he explored new
territory, established alliances and understandings with Natives,
waged war when necessary, and left behind a legend in the New World
that lasts to this day.
“Fryer does a wonderful job of captivating the reader, she manages to
effectively interlace the politics of a religiously contentious France
with the adventurous matters of Champlain in the St. Lawrence Valley.
Her attention to detail serves the biographical form perfectly and her
eloquent presentation does not contrast the evidence.” Mary Beacock
Fryer is a well-known expert on Upper Canadian history and has written
many biographies, including a trilogy on the Simcoe family:
Elizabeth
Posthuma Simcoe
,
Our Young Soldier
, and
John Graves Simcoe
. Among Fryer's other books are
Bold, Brave, and Born to Lead
and
Buckskin Pimpernel
. She lives in Toronto.
