
AUTHOR'S PREFATORY NOTE.
CHAPTER I. MEN OF THE OLD RÉGIME.
CHAPTER II. THE WALLS OF QUEBEC.
CHAPTER III. A CHATELAINE OF NEW FRANCE.
CHAPTER IV. CONFIDENCES.
CHAPTER V. THE ITINERANT NOTARY.
CHAPTER VI. BEAUMANOIR.
CHAPTER VII. THE INTENDANT BIGOT.
CHAPTER VIII. CAROLINE DE ST. CASTIN.
CHAPTER IX. PIERRE PHILIBERT.
Set against the rugged beauty of mid‑century Quebec, the story opens on a crisp sunrise in 1748, where the governor of New France and his colorful entourage—French officers, Canadian militia, and a charismatic Swedish gentleman—survey the city’s defenses. As rumors of an English invasion swirl, the fortified bastions become a hub of lively conversation, solemn prayer, and determined labor, revealing a colony on the brink of war yet brimming with pride and camaraderie.
Through vivid descriptions of the bustling ramparts and the tense atmosphere of a frontier under siege, the narrative paints a portrait of ambition, honor, and the clash of empires. Readers are drawn into the lives of the governor, his philosophic mentor, and the spirited soldiers who must balance duty with personal conviction, all while the looming threat of conflict presses ever closer.
The early chapters weave together history and human drama, inviting listeners to experience the sounds of clanging swords, the murmur of strategic debates, and the awe of a landscape that feels both timeless and on the edge of transformation.
Language
en
Duration
~21 hours (1265K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Donald Lainson, and David Widger
Release date
2001-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1817–1906
Best known for the classic historical novel The Golden Dog, this English-born Canadian writer helped shape early Canadian literature through fiction, journalism, and public service. His work is remembered for bringing the history of Quebec and Niagara vividly to life.
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