France and England in North America, Part III: The Discovery of the Great West (1870)

This volume opens a vivid portrait of the daring French ventures that first mapped the interior of North America. It follows the youthful ambition of an explorer drawn to the wilderness, his early ties with the Jesuits, and the bold quest for a western passage to the riches of India. Readers travel with early parties along the great lakes, through the rugged frontier of western New York, and down the nascent routes of the Mississippi as they were first charted.

The author draws on a treasure trove of previously unused French archives, private papers, and detailed maps, offering fresh interpretations of familiar names and events. Listeners will hear the clash of cultures, the hardships of frontier life, and the intricate diplomatic dances that shaped the early colonial landscape—all presented with clear, engaging narration that brings the 17th‑century Great West to life.