
Transcriber’s Notes: This text retains many old and inconsistent spellings as found in the Dodsley 1769 edition. Differences from that edition are as follows: As is usually done in modern editions of Emily Montague, the letters have been renumbered to run consecutively from 1 to 228. This avoids irregularities in numbering in the original. Normal case has been used for the initial words of each letter. Long s has been replaced with a regular short s. The Errata which appeared at the end of volume four of the original has been applied to the text. Various other corrections have been made, and in each case, the original form has been recorded in the html markup. Usage of quote marks has been modernized.
An intimate collection of letters opens a vivid portrait of life in late‑18th‑century Canada, where the wilderness and the fledgling settlements pulse with both promise and challenge. Through the voice of a spirited Englishwoman embarking on a new colonial venture, the narrative sketches daily encounters, the raw beauty of untamed lands, and the delicate negotiations of social expectations. The epistolary style lets readers hear the humor, longing, and earnest curiosity that animate each exchange.
The letters capture a mix of personal ambition and genuine affection, as the writer balances duty to family with a restless desire for adventure and community. Alongside vivid descriptions of the Canadian frontier, the work reflects on friendship, loyalty, and the evolving role of women in a world far from the familiar streets of London. Listeners are invited into a thoughtful, gently witty exploration of a formative moment in North‑American history, told through the warm, candid tone of its correspondent.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (618K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrew Sly
Release date
2005-07-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

d. 1789
Best known for writing The History of Emily Montague, she helped bring 18th-century readers a vivid literary picture of Quebec and is often linked to the first English novel written in Canada. Her career also stretched across essays, plays, translations, and journalism.
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