Description
Transporting readers from cosmopolitan seventeenth-century Paris to the Canadian frontier, this vibrant debut tells of the struggle to survive in a brutal time and place. Laure Beausejour has been taken from her destitute family and raised in an infamous orphanage to be trained as a lace maker. Striking and willful, she dreams of becoming a seamstress and catching the eye of a nobleman. But after complaining about her living conditions, she is sent to Canada as a fille du roi, expected to marry a French farmer there. Laure is shocked by the primitive state of the colony and the mingling of the settlers with the native tribes. When her ill-matched husband leaves her alone in their derelict hut for the winter, she must rely on her wits and her clandestine relationship with an Iroquois man for survival.
About the Author
Suzanne Desrochers, of French Canadian descent, has conducted extensive research on the filles du roi and is writing a PhD thesis at King's College London on the migration of women to America. She lives in Toronto.
Reviews
"A wholly original example of social history at its best." -- John Barber - Globe and Mail
"Desrochers sheds new light on an all but forgotten chapter in the history of Canada. . . . The fascinating backstory propels the elegant . . . narrative." -- Margaret Flanagan - Booklist
"Historical fiction fans will appreciate the rich period details and commiserate with believable characters modeled after the founding mothers of French Canada." -- Andrea Brooks - Library Journal
"Bride of New France is a haunting story of a courageous young woman, shipped over from France to the wilderness of Canada in the 17th century. Beautifully written, Suzanne Desrochers uses the rich detail of the time period to tell us of Laure's remarkable bravery and determination and to remind us again of the resilience of our forbearers." -- Kathleen Grissom , author of The Kitchen House
Book Information
ISBN 9780393345858
Author Suzanne Desrochers
Format Paperback
Page Count 316
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 393g
Dimensions(mm) 211mm * 140mm * 20mm
About the Author
Suzanne Desrochers, of French Canadian descent, has conducted extensive research on the filles du roi and is writing a PhD thesis at King's College London on the migration of women to America. She lives in Toronto.
Reviews
"A wholly original example of social history at its best." -- John Barber - Globe and Mail
"Desrochers sheds new light on an all but forgotten chapter in the history of Canada. . . . The fascinating backstory propels the elegant . . . narrative." -- Margaret Flanagan - Booklist
"Historical fiction fans will appreciate the rich period details and commiserate with believable characters modeled after the founding mothers of French Canada." -- Andrea Brooks - Library Journal
"Bride of New France is a haunting story of a courageous young woman, shipped over from France to the wilderness of Canada in the 17th century. Beautifully written, Suzanne Desrochers uses the rich detail of the time period to tell us of Laure's remarkable bravery and determination and to remind us again of the resilience of our forbearers." -- Kathleen Grissom , author of The Kitchen House
Book Information
ISBN 9780393345858
Author Suzanne Desrochers
Format Paperback
Page Count 316
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 393g
Dimensions(mm) 211mm * 140mm * 20mm
