Wolfe and Montcalm: Their Lives, Their Times, and the Fate of a Continent - Softcover

Carroll, Joy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1552979059 ISBN 13: 9781552979051

Publisher: Firefly Books, 2004

Synopsis

A fascinating profile of two generals who shaped history.

In 1759, after the battle on the Plains of Abraham outside Quebec City, the English general James Wolfe and the French general, Louis-Joseph Montcalm lay mortally wounded, each hit by a sniper's bullet. Neither could know that the outcome on the Plains of Abraham would shape the history of both the United States and Canada.

After researching letters and journals and reading dozens of books, Joy Carroll has written a compelling account of the lives and times of the two generals which is both intimate and entertaining while maintaining the highest standards of historical accuracy. The generals shed their stuffy textbook images and emerge as real people who were brave, ambitious and colorful and coped with trials that would have broken the spirits of lesser men.

Wolfe and Montcalm is packed with fascinating accounts of the generals' mothers, lovers, friends, enemies, kings and moments of consuming passion, and the events that led up to the battle that changed the course of history. Find out what these men were really like. Read the true story of how they ended up in the French colony. How the British government failed Wolfe and the rulers of France abandoned Montcalm and how Wolfe won. Although the battle on the Plains of Abraham is the centerpiece of this work, the book also presents a rich tapestry of eighteenth century North America, France and England.

About this title

From the Author:

Wolfe and Montcalm is the behind-the-scenes story of the two generals, Wolfe and Montcalm who unknowingly changed the fate of a continent. With hindsight, one could say that the battle of the Plains of Abraham might have ended differently. Wolfe was lucky and took some risks; Montcalm didn't have the supoport of all his troops, (some militia units were held at Beauport by Governor Vaudreuil). Under different conditions, the French might have won.

Th generals remain dim figures to us. However, they were real men, with real problems. They were ambitious, courageous men (Wolfe was 31 and Montcalm, 47) but their attitudes toward war, for instance, was very different. Wolfe was eager and blooodthirsty, Montcalm had been wounded six times and was now cool. We do know Wolfe drank very little wine and ate little food. Montcalm loved wine and imported treats for himself. Both were passionate about the women they loved; neither was fond of gambling, though it was a current past-time.

After researching letters and journals and reading dozens of books, I was fascinated by them both and the times in which they lived. Perhaps Wolfe and Montcalm will come alive for the reader, as they have for me.

About the Author:

Joy Carroll began her writing career as a journalist on a daily newspaper and after writing a bestselling historical romance turned to Canadian history for subsequent books.

About this edition

• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1552979059
• ISBN 13: 9781552979051
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296