Wolfe at Quebec: The Man Who Won the French and Indian War

by Christopher Hibbert

The last year in the life of Bristish general James Wolfe.

Genres: History, Canada, Biography, Nonfiction, Military History, British Literature, War

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Christopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS (5 March 1924 - 21 December 2008) was an English writer, historian and biographer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of many books, including Disraeli, Edward VII, George IV, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, and Cavaliers and Roundheads.

Described by Professor Sir John Plumb as "a writer of the highest ability and in the New Statesman as "a pearl of biographers," he established himself as a leading popular historian/biographer whose works reflected meticulous scholarship.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a well-written narrative composed in the 1950's, an era when professional historians did not yet disdain narrative history and possessed the skills necessary to write it.

From my youth I have been fascinated with the Battle of Quebec, both because of the remarkable terrain of "The Plains of Abraham" (terrain I've had the opportunity to examine firsthand) and because of the contrasting characters of the two opposing generals--the young upstart Wolfe and the middle-aged aristocrat Montcalm--each of whom gave his life on the day of battle.

I am particularly fascinated by Wolfe, whom I knew to be a homely, high-strung, eccentric lover of poetry, a man uncomfortable with his more aristocratic subordinates but undeniably brave and hardworking. Apparently, though, I didn't know the half of it: he was neurotic, probably a closet-case, often wrong-headed in his decisions, mistrustful of his junior officers and contemptuous of his men.

The hardworking and brave part though? Undeniable.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, well-researched and engaging biography of Wolfe.

The battle on the Plains of Abraham is the main highlight, of course, and Hibbert does a fine job bringing this to life: one cannot tell the story of the siege of Québec without also telling Wolfe’s, so Hibbert’s focus on Wolfe does not in any way make the story of the battle less interesting or thorough.

Of course, Wolfe makes an unlikely hero, as Hibbert points out: “he was neurotic, diseased, secretive and a military fanatic.” Hibbert’s Wolfe comes off as weak, cruel and even stupid at times. Hibbert also fleshes out Wolfe’s egotistical side and his famous feuds with his subordinate officers, who all shared a low opinion of their commander.

A readable and entertaining biography. It has no citations, however.

[Michael Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is popular history of an interesting event, the siege and capture of Quebec in 1759, by the British navy and the British army led by General Wolfe. It reads more like a novel, than a work of serious history, and most of the bibliography is quite dated, but it certainly provides an overview of what happened that summer and fall.
It shows, as any book about the Seven Years War in North America will show, that it seems like victory was to be won by which side was the least incompetent. Both the French and the English had novel ways of deciding who would lead and it very seldom had anything to do with merit. Both sides were riven with internal discord, the English I would say slightly less, but still major.
This book shows that General Wolfe was a thoroughly unlikeable hypochondriac who was a boss from hell, and if not for some luck, or as this book suggests, treasonous help from the French, who had an interest in the English winning to hide their financial frauds, would have not been successful and would be only remembered as a footnote to history.

[Herb Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Hibbert wrote numerous histories and biographies in a style that was very informative and very entertaining. He is not a dry academic historian seeking profundity through boredom.
In Wolfe at Quebec he gives us the story of an eccentric to the point of being viewed as odd, getting his first independent command. Wolfe's dream, apparently, was death in battle as a cure for the several illnesses that plagued him and as a glorious end to a life of service to the King. Wolfe's victory at Quebec brought him almost secular sainthood, and great acclaim as a paragon of English manhood.
Not a bad end for a soldier often considered prickly, odd, and even a little mad.

[Rita Hosey · Rating 4 out of 5]

1759: JAMES WOLFE AND MARQUIS MONTCALM. How did Quebec fall to the British, and what did it mean for the French people? This book explains the war and the strong personality of General Wolfe. I believe the French could have won, but there were many obstacles within their ranks and a lack of support from France, which was also fighting a war on its own territory. I am amazed to read that the final battle was fought with men standing so close together. How sad to read this.

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear description of the British army (under the command of the flawed but ambitious General Wolfe) won the battle that resulted in Great Britain's capture of Quebec. Warning . . .both sides committed atrocities.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Could have used a better editor.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

[image error]

Read By: David Case
Audiobook Copyright: 2000
Genre: Audiobook

Book Description
================
Noted historian Hibbert chronicles the victory of British General James Wolfe over French adversary General Montcalm in 1759. Within the pages of the book, it is revealed how this battle played a large part
in shaping the destiny of the North American continent.