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Montcalm and Wolfe: Two Men Who Forever Changed the Course of Canadian History
One of Canada's most beloved raconteurs tells the story of Wolfe and Montcalm and the Plains of Abraham
In September 1759, a small band of British troops led by James Wolfe scaled the tall cliff overlooking a farmer's field owned by Abraham Martin and overpowered the French garrison that protected the area, allowing the bulk of the British army to ascend the cliff behind and attack the French who, led by Louis-Joseph Montcalm, were largely unaware of Wolfe's tactics. The battle that ensued on what would become known as the Plains of Abraham would forever shape the geography and politics of Canada.
Montcalm and Wolfe, written by one of the finest writers this country has ever produced, is the epic story of this battle told through the lives of the two generals, Wolfe and Montcalm. The book is a dual biography of the men and their most famous battle written by a master storyteller. What kind of life did they have before they took up arms? What were the two men really like? And, most importantly, what forces brought the two men to face each other in a battle that forged a nation?
In September 1759, a small band of British troops led by James Wolfe scaled the tall cliff overlooking a farmer's field owned by Abraham Martin and overpowered the French garrison that protected the area, allowing the bulk of the British army to ascend the cliff behind and attack the French who, led by Louis-Joseph Montcalm, were largely unaware of Wolfe's tactics. The battle that ensued on what would become known as the Plains of Abraham would forever shape the geography and politics of Canada.
Montcalm and Wolfe, written by one of the finest writers this country has ever produced, is the epic story of this battle told through the lives of the two generals, Wolfe and Montcalm. The book is a dual biography of the men and their most famous battle written by a master storyteller. What kind of life did they have before they took up arms? What were the two men really like? And, most importantly, what forces brought the two men to face each other in a battle that forged a nation?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2014
16 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Roch Carrier
87 books13 followersRoch Carrier, OC is a Canadian novelist, playwright and author of "contes" (a very brief form of the short story). He is among the best known Quebec writers in English Canada.
From 1994 to 1997, he served as head of the Canada Council. In 1998, he ran as an electoral candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party under Jean Charest, in the riding of Crémazie. He was defeated by 309 votes.
In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. From 1999 to 2004, Carrier was National Librarian of Canada.
A quote from "Le chandail de hockey" ("The Hockey Sweater"), one of Carrier's contes, is reprinted on the back of the Canadian five-dollar bill.
From 1994 to 1997, he served as head of the Canada Council. In 1998, he ran as an electoral candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party under Jean Charest, in the riding of Crémazie. He was defeated by 309 votes.
In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. From 1999 to 2004, Carrier was National Librarian of Canada.
A quote from "Le chandail de hockey" ("The Hockey Sweater"), one of Carrier's contes, is reprinted on the back of the Canadian five-dollar bill.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 25, 2024
The intense dramatics of the French and Indian War are portrayed in this two part biography of the leading heroes from both sides of the effort, where famed Canadian novelist Roch Carrier focuses on Britain’s James Wolfe and France’s Louis-Joseph Montcalm. This is a history that has been told before and should prove easily navigable, as there are so many near misses with death, battles lost to the enemy side and foes vanquished throughout—so it’s quite astonishing how Carrier’s style and voice just do not connect with the work as a whole. The narrative is faithfully chronological from beginning to end, though upon learning about both of these martyrs’ upbringings in the first chapters, it’s clear that there are indeed no notations for sources—whether that be in footnotes, endnotes, or even glancing through to the end of the book.
The fact that it is missing both a “Notes” section and a “Bibliography” allows for skepticism and hesitancy, which is especially unfortunate when considering the amount of effort and apparent research that Carrier has placed upon chronicling his subjects. This could possibly be the publishers fault, as the book is translated for the English audience—perhaps the original edition contains relevant source material and has appropriately attempted to verify the research and facts provided. The journals that these two distinguished generals left behind provide fascinating accounts of the Battles of Louisbourg and Quebec, and have been used by numerous historians for a better understanding of the North American account of the Seven Years’ War, and it’s clear Carrier draws heavily from these. Unfortunately, Carrier’s writing is at times all over the place, with stream of consciousness flowing throughout the sentences, and far too many exclamation points that seem inappropriate for a scholarly work:
On June 4, 1758, Louisbourg was shrouded in fog. Furious gusts seized hold of some cargo ships and threw a frigate against the rocks. On June 6, the fog changed to rain. The old sailors said the sea was getting tired. It calmed during the night. They would land at Louisbourg! The order was given for the soldiers to drop down into the boats to which they had been assigned. The rowers awaited the signal to plunge their oars in the water … Suddenly, the sea rose up. Back to the ships!
The redeeming quality that the reader will most definitely find throughout the pages is the passion and admiration that Carrier holds for both Montcalm and Wolfe—with no favoritism to be discovered—and a true fondness for going above and beyond in detailing their family backgrounds, marital prospects and relationships, qualities and behaviors, as well as opinions on the various officers and surrounding territories that are in conflict. The book is promising in its scope of faithfully following the lives of two men who undoubtedly had a profound effect on the outcome of the French and Indian War, though it is spectacularly marred by short and inconsistent sentences, and a rather amateurish abuse of not showing or connecting sources to the material being discussed in each chapter. To end on an already displeasing note, there are no maps or photos provided, which again should arguably be blamed on the publisher.
The fact that it is missing both a “Notes” section and a “Bibliography” allows for skepticism and hesitancy, which is especially unfortunate when considering the amount of effort and apparent research that Carrier has placed upon chronicling his subjects. This could possibly be the publishers fault, as the book is translated for the English audience—perhaps the original edition contains relevant source material and has appropriately attempted to verify the research and facts provided. The journals that these two distinguished generals left behind provide fascinating accounts of the Battles of Louisbourg and Quebec, and have been used by numerous historians for a better understanding of the North American account of the Seven Years’ War, and it’s clear Carrier draws heavily from these. Unfortunately, Carrier’s writing is at times all over the place, with stream of consciousness flowing throughout the sentences, and far too many exclamation points that seem inappropriate for a scholarly work:
On June 4, 1758, Louisbourg was shrouded in fog. Furious gusts seized hold of some cargo ships and threw a frigate against the rocks. On June 6, the fog changed to rain. The old sailors said the sea was getting tired. It calmed during the night. They would land at Louisbourg! The order was given for the soldiers to drop down into the boats to which they had been assigned. The rowers awaited the signal to plunge their oars in the water … Suddenly, the sea rose up. Back to the ships!
The redeeming quality that the reader will most definitely find throughout the pages is the passion and admiration that Carrier holds for both Montcalm and Wolfe—with no favoritism to be discovered—and a true fondness for going above and beyond in detailing their family backgrounds, marital prospects and relationships, qualities and behaviors, as well as opinions on the various officers and surrounding territories that are in conflict. The book is promising in its scope of faithfully following the lives of two men who undoubtedly had a profound effect on the outcome of the French and Indian War, though it is spectacularly marred by short and inconsistent sentences, and a rather amateurish abuse of not showing or connecting sources to the material being discussed in each chapter. To end on an already displeasing note, there are no maps or photos provided, which again should arguably be blamed on the publisher.
June 9, 2023
This is a dual biography of the two generals who met their fate on the Plain of Abraham in Canada during the Seven Years War. Carrier is passionate about his subject and the book gets better as we get closer to the climactic battle. There are good descriptions of the battles that Montcalm and Wolfe participated in both the continent and North America.
My e-book was a translation, and the writing suffers in my opinion. The sentences are quite choppy, and the text does not flow very well. This is an okay book, and I did learn about the era that these generals lived. A huge problem with the book is the lack of maps. This seems inexcusable and quite an oversight.
My e-book was a translation, and the writing suffers in my opinion. The sentences are quite choppy, and the text does not flow very well. This is an okay book, and I did learn about the era that these generals lived. A huge problem with the book is the lack of maps. This seems inexcusable and quite an oversight.
March 27, 2015
For a Canadian, this should be a must read. There was a book that I read a few years ago that was very good in detail and describing the battle that had the British and France fighting for a piece of land that would eventually become Canada. That book dealt more with the actual skirmishes and battle lines that lead to a British victory. In the big picture of many fought sea and land wars between those two countries, the terrain of the New World fell short in importance. Always open to new material on the history of my home country, I was anxious to give this new release a read.
In this rendition of the war that has become known as The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the author has concentrated his attention more on the life’s of the two major formidable generals from both sides known as Louis-Joseph Montcalm and James Wolfe. First, what wonderful insight and writing by Mr. Carrier who is a Quebecois. As he mentions in his acknowledgments, he was a little biased in his believe of the 1759 history but as he researched for his book he mentions that he became more respectful of the two combatants and it showed in his finished work. I found that the book had a great pace without the dryness that you may find in non-fiction history.
As mentioned, this novel features the two generals of the time from their upbringing to their ultimate demise. A very well done time capsule of an important event that changed the landscape of this great land. Strongly recommend.
In this rendition of the war that has become known as The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the author has concentrated his attention more on the life’s of the two major formidable generals from both sides known as Louis-Joseph Montcalm and James Wolfe. First, what wonderful insight and writing by Mr. Carrier who is a Quebecois. As he mentions in his acknowledgments, he was a little biased in his believe of the 1759 history but as he researched for his book he mentions that he became more respectful of the two combatants and it showed in his finished work. I found that the book had a great pace without the dryness that you may find in non-fiction history.
As mentioned, this novel features the two generals of the time from their upbringing to their ultimate demise. A very well done time capsule of an important event that changed the landscape of this great land. Strongly recommend.
September 2, 2016
This was an incredibly frustrating and a disappointing book. It had rambling, awkward sentences and in some areas, poor transitions from Wolfe's point of view from Montcalm's point of view. I am not sure how much this is a translation issue, but it made for a difficult read. My biggest issue was an utter and complete lack of maps in my ebook version. Given that a lot of place names near the Great Lakes and St.Lawrence seaway have changed, except for those in Quebec, I had no context at all for any of the geography. Even major rivers names have changed. Ohio river was not known as the Ohio then. Pittsburgh was under a different name, so was Halifax to name a few key places. I was completely lost which made me utterly disinterested in the narrative. Even for the most famous battle, Plains of Abraham, I would've like to seen a map of Quebec City and region during 1750's to get a sense of how the battle looked like.
Want to read
November 2, 2019Synopsis: modern Canada was born in the shadows of the men who commanded opposing forces on Abraham Martin's field in Quebec City in 1759.
April 19, 2020
Interesting to read the separate stories of two men forever associated together in the creation of Canada but who have never met. That’s about it. Book hard to follow as his timeline is not always lineal and can jump from one perspective to another within a chapter. So many characters it gets confusing on which character is French or English, especially towards the siege of Quebec City. The author was also quick to asses the scalping done by Indigenous characters and their thirst for war and the war spoils. But never casted a dark light on French soldiers during war or peace. Which seem obvious as a French author but not an entirely impartial portraying of the times.
Overall, insight full book on their path to Quebec City and on the last years of Nouvelle-France. It’s not a 5 stars since it wasn’t consistent and not a 4 since it was dull at moments.
Overall, insight full book on their path to Quebec City and on the last years of Nouvelle-France. It’s not a 5 stars since it wasn’t consistent and not a 4 since it was dull at moments.
February 22, 2021
This book would easily get 4 stars if it did not lack one essential thing: maps. As the author spends a lot of time describing troops movements, sieges, and locations, it would have been great if we had maps to understand all this. It may be that a Canadian may be very familiar with all these places and where they are but to non-Canadians, it is a bit difficult.
Despite this major flaw, the book itself offers a decent crash course on the Seven Years' War and its North American theatre of operation, known in the Anglo-Saxon world as the French and Indian War. Its particularity is that it focuses on the two major commanders who led the opposing armies on that fateful day on the Plains of Abraham. What became obvious to me is that the two characters, Montcalm and Wolfe, had much in common. They were both dutiful, competent, noble. They were also condescending toward Canadiens and American colonists and they were both ambitious from a social and economical point of view, always seeking to advance their station and make financial gains. They were also separated by a number of things. For example, one quickly understands that Montcalm was aware he was fighting a losing battle from early on while Wolfe was imbued of a sense of superiority. I personally found Wolfe to be quite dislikable with his arrogance and his severity although he was certainly an admirable officer who was courageous and had a sense of elegance. Montcalm seemed to me more sympathetic although a bit too proud and imbued of himself with his constant bickering with the Governor of Canada, Vaudreuil.
The book alternates between chapters that focus on one character and then the other or on events from the French perspective and then on the British one. I found the sequence to be adequate with the author Roch Carrier, giving a quick overview of the two men at the beginning of their lives and their career until both are linked to Canada. We are taken through the early victories of the French which are quickly followed by the British ones. Mr. Carrier gives very vivid descriptions of the most famous battles of the war: the attack on Fort Duquesne, the French victory at Fort Carillon, the siege of Louisbourg, and finally the siege of Quebec. Everywhere, the Fench and the British fought alongside Natives with ferocity and it is clear that the conquest of Canada came at great price for both European nations. We get a glimpse that the Natives fought alongside each side but I found that the author did not develop much on their role. We get a sense that they fought alongside the strongest side (the French at the beginning, the British at the end) but not mich more than that, which is another major flaw since the Natives played a crucial role in the early French victories and their receding support explains a lot.of their defeats afterward.
Throughout the book, we get a sense of a sinking ship with French and Canadiens elites spending fortunes in balls and games while the population suffers from hunger. Mr. Carrier describes characters such as Intendant Bigot and Cadet who were making fortunes through fraud and corruption at the expense of the French treasury and Canada's defense. As the end draws near, the reader is baffled by the lack of consciousness of these men.
The book ends with a chapter on the French perspective, describing how the French viewed the loss of Canada and what the end of the war meant for them. There is a sense of sourness as the author describes how the French government decided to let go of Canada as it was too expensive and preferred to give it away in exchange for the return of more profitable colonies.
I think the conclusion is a clear example of how Canadiens then and, perhaps some now, felt: abandoned. It is indeed a cruel fate that befell them as they fought hard for years, incessantly requesting assistance from Louis XV. Such sourness is partially understandable. Partially because one cannot ignore that the French and Indian War was one theatre of operation among the many that France was involved in. In particular, France was also fighting Prussia alongside its ally Austria. Through complex diplomatic alliances, France had found itself allied to its traditional enemy, Austria, against its traditional ally, Prussia and it had taken major engagements to help Austria for fear of losing its alliance and remain alone against Great-Britain and Prussia. Because of this situation, France was entangled in a conflict that monopolized most of its resources on the European continent and as it fared badly, it had to increase its commitment in this part of the world, which led Louis XV to reduce his support of and give up on Canada as he did not have the means to fight on both fronts and because France was more directly threatened in Europe. In the end, yes, Canada was abandoned because the French gave up on defending it. But what choice did they have? And then, when the war ended and France had lost Acadia, the Upper Country, the Ohio Valley, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Marie-Galante, Sainte-Lucie, all its possessions in India ,its Senegal trading post, and even Belle-Ile-en-Mer, and that it barely had only one conquest to exchange, Minorca, did France really have the means to demand Canada back? Recent historians have actually determined that considering the series of defeats the French suffered and their losses, the peace treaty of Paris of 1763 was not nearly as bad as it could have been (actually, many British people were enraged that the peace conditions had not been more severe). And in the end, Choiseul was quite happy to have given up Canada because he had well understood that it was the French presence there that made the American colonists rely on Great-Britain for support and with this presence gone, the colonists had nothing to prevent them from thinking about their autonomy. Food for thought...
Despite this major flaw, the book itself offers a decent crash course on the Seven Years' War and its North American theatre of operation, known in the Anglo-Saxon world as the French and Indian War. Its particularity is that it focuses on the two major commanders who led the opposing armies on that fateful day on the Plains of Abraham. What became obvious to me is that the two characters, Montcalm and Wolfe, had much in common. They were both dutiful, competent, noble. They were also condescending toward Canadiens and American colonists and they were both ambitious from a social and economical point of view, always seeking to advance their station and make financial gains. They were also separated by a number of things. For example, one quickly understands that Montcalm was aware he was fighting a losing battle from early on while Wolfe was imbued of a sense of superiority. I personally found Wolfe to be quite dislikable with his arrogance and his severity although he was certainly an admirable officer who was courageous and had a sense of elegance. Montcalm seemed to me more sympathetic although a bit too proud and imbued of himself with his constant bickering with the Governor of Canada, Vaudreuil.
The book alternates between chapters that focus on one character and then the other or on events from the French perspective and then on the British one. I found the sequence to be adequate with the author Roch Carrier, giving a quick overview of the two men at the beginning of their lives and their career until both are linked to Canada. We are taken through the early victories of the French which are quickly followed by the British ones. Mr. Carrier gives very vivid descriptions of the most famous battles of the war: the attack on Fort Duquesne, the French victory at Fort Carillon, the siege of Louisbourg, and finally the siege of Quebec. Everywhere, the Fench and the British fought alongside Natives with ferocity and it is clear that the conquest of Canada came at great price for both European nations. We get a glimpse that the Natives fought alongside each side but I found that the author did not develop much on their role. We get a sense that they fought alongside the strongest side (the French at the beginning, the British at the end) but not mich more than that, which is another major flaw since the Natives played a crucial role in the early French victories and their receding support explains a lot.of their defeats afterward.
Throughout the book, we get a sense of a sinking ship with French and Canadiens elites spending fortunes in balls and games while the population suffers from hunger. Mr. Carrier describes characters such as Intendant Bigot and Cadet who were making fortunes through fraud and corruption at the expense of the French treasury and Canada's defense. As the end draws near, the reader is baffled by the lack of consciousness of these men.
The book ends with a chapter on the French perspective, describing how the French viewed the loss of Canada and what the end of the war meant for them. There is a sense of sourness as the author describes how the French government decided to let go of Canada as it was too expensive and preferred to give it away in exchange for the return of more profitable colonies.
I think the conclusion is a clear example of how Canadiens then and, perhaps some now, felt: abandoned. It is indeed a cruel fate that befell them as they fought hard for years, incessantly requesting assistance from Louis XV. Such sourness is partially understandable. Partially because one cannot ignore that the French and Indian War was one theatre of operation among the many that France was involved in. In particular, France was also fighting Prussia alongside its ally Austria. Through complex diplomatic alliances, France had found itself allied to its traditional enemy, Austria, against its traditional ally, Prussia and it had taken major engagements to help Austria for fear of losing its alliance and remain alone against Great-Britain and Prussia. Because of this situation, France was entangled in a conflict that monopolized most of its resources on the European continent and as it fared badly, it had to increase its commitment in this part of the world, which led Louis XV to reduce his support of and give up on Canada as he did not have the means to fight on both fronts and because France was more directly threatened in Europe. In the end, yes, Canada was abandoned because the French gave up on defending it. But what choice did they have? And then, when the war ended and France had lost Acadia, the Upper Country, the Ohio Valley, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Marie-Galante, Sainte-Lucie, all its possessions in India ,its Senegal trading post, and even Belle-Ile-en-Mer, and that it barely had only one conquest to exchange, Minorca, did France really have the means to demand Canada back? Recent historians have actually determined that considering the series of defeats the French suffered and their losses, the peace treaty of Paris of 1763 was not nearly as bad as it could have been (actually, many British people were enraged that the peace conditions had not been more severe). And in the end, Choiseul was quite happy to have given up Canada because he had well understood that it was the French presence there that made the American colonists rely on Great-Britain for support and with this presence gone, the colonists had nothing to prevent them from thinking about their autonomy. Food for thought...
December 6, 2021
As an English speaker who loves history and Quebec, it was difficult for me to find a good book about this two great generals in Canadian History. The book is structured really well, with each chapter alternatively dedicated to Montcalm and Wolfe. As a result you gradually move towards the climactic battle. In the end you feel both the character. Really well done and the translation is great too. Now have a much better understanding of french history in Quebec.
July 15, 2015
Some histories have an obvious agenda. They present events to guide readers to adopt a particular interpretation of events. Others seem more objective or subtle, and appear to rely primarily on source material to pant the narrative. This book is in the latter camp. It presents the story of the Fall of Quebec by chronologically following the lives of the chief protagonists (Montcalm and Wolfe). It appears that a large portion of the information was gleaned from personal diaries, journals and regimental histories. The author offers few obvious opinions or interpretations as the story is revealed. I know this history from childhood - elementary school, field trips and a fair amount of reading. I grew up in the Province of Quebec and the story looms large in its politics and culture. I thought I knew it well, but this careful and detailed retelling was a revelation for me. It helped chip away at the myths surrounding the events, and in particular that surrounding General Wolfe. I also found the book very engaging, and at times riveting. Five stars may be a little much, but I really liked the book.
March 3, 2015
Excellent narrative history. Sweeping and lucid, capturing the thoughts and feelings of the individuals involved in the fall of French Canada.
October 22, 2022
Fantastic book on one of the most interesting figures in Colonial history and his English equivalents. Being an American, I was always taught Wolfe’s perspective and how he was a noble servant of his majesty who have the ultimate sacrifice but gave England North America. So Wolfe, in my education, was the first domino to the Revolution in the American.
Now having the privilege of visiting Quebec multiple times in my life and getting to see the battleground each time. The importance of Montcalm really began to show. Then when I was recently there, I took a tour of what life was live in New France. This casted Montcalm as the last hope for the imperial claims in America.
Now that I have finished this book which does lean heavy on the French viewpoint of the two men. We are still looking at two incredible smart men thrusted into the history books in valid attempts to save and show for their majesty’s claims.
But after reading this book. I have a greater appreciation for Montcalm. I would consider him a Cincinnatus esque character in history.
Now having the privilege of visiting Quebec multiple times in my life and getting to see the battleground each time. The importance of Montcalm really began to show. Then when I was recently there, I took a tour of what life was live in New France. This casted Montcalm as the last hope for the imperial claims in America.
Now that I have finished this book which does lean heavy on the French viewpoint of the two men. We are still looking at two incredible smart men thrusted into the history books in valid attempts to save and show for their majesty’s claims.
But after reading this book. I have a greater appreciation for Montcalm. I would consider him a Cincinnatus esque character in history.
October 18, 2020
I was surprised how dry this book was given that Carrier is a storyteller. It is a fascinating time in the history of Canada (not to mention Britain, France and the US) and yet the story of these two central figures simply fails to launch. Maps would have helped given the changing place names and insistence on referring to distances in “leagues”. For me, this book gets three stars: I’m glad he wrote it, and I’m glad I read it, but it could have been so much more.
March 25, 2020
The topic and the history that the book covers is excellent. The problem, and I am not alone in this sentiment, was the writing. It was choppy and at times disjointed. However, anyone that wants an overview of the end of New France, this is a good start.
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June 2, 2025Je ne peux pas croire qu’un livre écrit en 2014 utilise librement un terme péjoratif pour décrire les autochtones. Même si ce terme était utilisé au temps des colons, la vie a évolué.
Je n’ai pas pu finir le texte qui était de plus, très fade.
Je n’ai pas pu finir le texte qui était de plus, très fade.
March 15, 2020
A solid read about the beginning of Canada. Learned a lot m
November 27, 2020
Poorly written, completely lacking in maps, citations, or even a bibliography.
July 7, 2015
I can't decide if the ending is melancholy or dismissive, sad or disgusted at the end result of the conquest of Quebec by the English. But the rest of the book is the most straightforward account you'll ever find of Montcalm and Wolfe, and how destiny lead their very different lives to intersect on the Plains of Abraham. Roch Carrier is most famous for his story "The Hockey Sweater"...but after reading this book, I think he needs to explore historical topics more often.
April 30, 2015
Found it difficult to follow. Only read 3/4 of the book.
December 31, 2015
History / biography and Roch Carrier the story teller. What could be better than this
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews