How very different our North American history would read if only France had given full support to the settlement and development of America. One man, Samuel de Champlain, had a dream and devoted his entire life to the building of French colonial Canada. What a magnificent dream it was, and what a wonderful, informative historical look into that dream has David Fischer written. His book is daunting in its length, over 800 pages. I know that will put some readers off, but if you have any interest in a story that we in the United States have largely ignored in our school books, than I am sure you will enjoy this book. The actual story takes place in some 500 pages, and the remainder of the book is source material and very interesting notes and first hand accounts from contemporaries of Champlain and past historians. Fischer writes so well that before you know it, you are several hundred pages into he book and completely hooked on the narrative of Champlain's adventures.
Champlain date of birth is disputed, perhaps 1570; he died in 1635. He was born in Brouage near the coast of France. It was a time of great turmoil between the Catholics and the Huguenots. Champlain's family who were Protestant changed faith when it seemed expedient. Samuel was an expert seaman having grown up in a fishing village where the men were used to long voyages for deep sea hauls. He fought as a soldier for Henri IV (it is thought by some that he was, in fact, and illegitimate son of Henri). He was also a talented mapmaker, an artist and a writer. For whatever reason, Champlain was mentored by Henri, and it is in his reign that Samuel began the first of his many voyages of exploration to the new world.
Champlain's dream was to build a nation, town by town, where all religions were tolerated, where all people were accepted and Native Americans given the same status and respect as the Europeans. He was given his most support by Henri IV. When the throne passed to Louis XIII and his advisor, Richelieu, there was much less interest in exploring and settling America. By that time in history, the French were embroiled in European wars and the 100 Year's War was on the horizon. France's attitude toward the America's was very different than Spain, Britain and the Netherlands. The French were satisfied to just reap riches from the furs the trappers returned with, and colonization was very low in importance. In fact, the French citizens did not have the same incentives to leave their country as many of the religious dissidents in Britain had.
Champlain soldiered on with his ideal through the two regimes. He was able to keep small colonies going in Quebec and Trois Rivieres. The people he attracted for the colonies came largely from Normandy and later from the northern provinces of the Loire River. These people lived in harmony with the Algonquins, eventually intermarrying with Mohawks, Mi'maq, Huron, Montagnais, and Mohegan. The Iroquois were the enemy, but Champlain was able to live in peace with them through his lifetime. The real enemy were the raiders from England, Netherlands, pirates, privateers, and other Europeans who did not respect the traditions and ways of the Indians.
Encased in all this history is the story of an amazing man, who is the Father of Canada. While much of his life is documented, it is difficult to know the personal life of Champlain. What was he like emotionally? He had a strange marriage to a woman much younger than he. What was wrong in that marriage remains a closed door, but eventually his wife left him and entered a convent. Champlain himself seems almost monk-like in his devotion to God and his ideals.
I highly recommend this book to all who love history and wish to learn a wealth of information about the settling and early days of French Canada. How very different the philosophical and governmental history of Canada would have been if Wolfe had not defeated Montcalm in 1759 in the last of the French and Indian Wars, long after Champlain's death.
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