Customer Reviews

The White and the Gold

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"The White and The Gold" tell the epic story of the French regime in Canada. Beginning with the early explorers, we meet the heroes and villains who charted the northern rivers and lakes, cleared the forests, evangelized the Indians and built the country that grew into Canada. The names from history books come alive on these pages. Jacques Cartier, Etienne Brule, Samuel de Champlain, Jean de Breboeuf, Msgr. Laval, Frontenac and so many others become real people to the reader.

The French settlers' conflict with the Iroquois receives much deserved attention. The conflict with the Iroquois dominated the development and settlement patterns throughout the French era. I always wondered how the Iroquois could give the French so much trouble when the other Indian tribes were allied with the French. In this book Costain gives the answer. The Iroquois were more intelligent and better warriors than the Huron, Erie and other tribes with whom the French allied themselves. The Iroquois not only harassed the French but actually destroyed some of their adversarial tribes, leaving place names as their only legacies.

I was surprised to see how much attention is devoted to the French personalities and events which had an impact on New France. We hear much of Louis XIV, Cardinal Richeleau and other figures who shaped French policy regarding Canada.

I started this book in hopes of learning about my French-Canadian ancestors. If finished it very well satisfied.

Fascinating book, captivating, and easily readable. It tells an accurate, historical story of the colonial French history in North America (New France). From the discovery of St Lawrence seaway to voyages along the Great Lakes, inland rivers of the Northeast,the Mississippi River, and settlements all the way to New Orleans; the French clearly provided lasting profound imprints on North America. The book's last chapter ends with the loss of the French to the English on the Plains of Abraham in Montreal. This battle ended the French and Indian War. New France was renamed Canada. The White and the Gold vividly brings to life this exciting and pivotal historical aspects of North America.

Magnificent history of early French- Canada. Costain has a very readable style.