An Illustrated History of Quebec: Tradition and Modernity

by Peter Gossage, Jack Little

Some 11,000 years ago, the continental ice sheet retreated from the landscape we now know as Quebec. This cold, unique, and beautiful land has continued to shift with the movement of peoples and their often troubled interactions.

The retreating ice marks the beginning of this fascinating and richly illustrated history. Peter Gossage and Jack Little recount the history of Quebec from the earliest days to the present in concise and elegant prose. By around 1000 BCE the Iroquois of the St Lawrence Valley were making pottery and
cultivating crops, with evidence of trade as far as the Gulf of Mexico. Of course European contact changed this world forever, from the introduction of metal to the introduction of Christianity. Early settlements became a militarized colony; Wolfe defeated Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham; and
control of the colony's commerce slipped into the hands of English-speaking merchants, setting the stage for political conflict in the early nineteenth century. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution brought increased tension between tradition and modernity-two forces that even today can be
difficult to reconcile. Quebec, in its often uneasy union with the rest of Canada (not to mention its own Aboriginal peoples), continues to evolve as its population becomes ever more diverse.

Detailed chapters on modern Quebec evaluate the political turmoil of recent years, from constitutional wrangles, to the Oka crisis, to sovereignty discussions, and the debate about cultural accommodation. Quebec remains a "curious and fascinating political space," a beacon of French-language culture
in North America, and an extraordinary nation within a nation.

Rarely seen illustrations are accompanied by in-depth captions, opening a world of visual narrative to the history of this complex society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada

369 pages, Hardcover

First published September 23, 2012

Reviews

[Muaz Jalil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book about Quebec's history. As a recent immigrant to Canada, I am fascinated with Quebec, although I live in Ottawa. I have visited old Quebec 4 times already. I bought this from Paragraphe bookstore in Montreal near McGill.

I made a few observations: first, the Catholic church was a regressive force. The church promoted a patriarchal family structure; rural focused on agriculture, whereas the society was moving towards gender equality, urban, industrial mode. In 1924 the church opposed the adoption act because it thought it might promote legalizing children born out of wedlock. In 1927, 75 children died in a cinema fire; some militant Catholics said it was just punishment from God for watching on Sunday. Similarly, federal women's suffrage was achieved in 1918; however due to the church's dominance, in Quebec it was achieved in 1940.

There was the Great Darkness (1930-50s) under the leadership of Duplessis. But things began to change in the 1950s with Refus Global manifesto, which called for an end to conformity. Then the quiet revolution of the 60s and "le debut d'un temps nouveau" led to securalism, liberalism, sexual freedom, and the waning of the church's dominance.

The book does not deal in detail with the interculturalism problems of Quebec with ethnic minorities or its relation with First Nations. I guess the objective was to explain the distinctive French culture of Quebec, its root, and anxieties, as opposed comprehensive history of Quebec. For instance, in the recent referendum, Cree nations voted 96% stay with Canada as opposed to independent Quebec. Indeed there are issues there which need further probing. There is a fine line between being proud of one's culture/language and being tribalistic/xenophobic.

I also understand Quebec's frustration with the federal government. The conscription in WW1 and WW2, the 1982 kitchen accord /Constitutional act, abandoning the Meech lake accord, etc. All these must look like a long history of betrayal. But then you have Quebec's language laws like Bill 101 and 178, which must anger anglophones.

Quebec considers itself as one of the first people, along with brits/English, to have formed Canada, and so they believe they cannot be treated like any other province. So they want special status but, again, are part of a federal union. This book helped me understand some of these issues. One thing I agree with Quebec, it is essential for Canada to safeguard its liberal values; as Popper said, tolerance of intolerance leads to eradication of tolerance. Quebec fighting to protect its culture and roots while trying to remain open is commendable but difficult .

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sussinct book on the history of one of Canada's most interesting provinces. Quite neutral.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging

[A Mift · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whiggish

[fio ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

impressively informative, neutral and succinct

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast-moving, engagingly written history runs from pre-European days to 2011 in 300 and some pages. It's very well written and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It filled in a few details about issues I heard much talk about as a kid growing up in Montreal, and later Ottawa. I wondered if it leaned slightly to the federalist, anglophone, Montreal-centric perspective. It seems to reflect the perspective I heard from (thoughtful) English-speaking relatives at the time of the two referenda on sovereignty, etc. Regardless: it seems a balanced,very enjoyable, informative read -- highly recommended.

[Perth Library]

An Illustrated History of Quebec by Peter Gossage describes the social, political and religious life in the province with its isolation from other provinces and different nature thoroughly explained. Library user Peter enjoyed learning some astonishing facts about things like voters' preferences and the role of the Catholic Church.

[TheEditingCompany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy edited by The Editing Company

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It only took 320 pages for me to learn more about the province I live in that a whole year of Quebec History class in high school.They should probably use this as a textbook.