Quebec, 1759: The Siege and the Battle

George F. McElroy was a freelance reviewer living in Oakville, Ontario.

Colonel C.P. Stacey, O.B.E., AM., Ph.D., is one of Canada’s best known and respected historians. During World War II, he was Director of the Historical Section of the General Staff and responsible for compiling, writing, and publishing the official history of the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1945. He is the author of The Victory Campaign, Canada and the Age of Conflict, A Very Double Life (a biography of William Lyon Mackenzie King) and, most recently, his own autobiography, entitled A Date with History.

Quebec, 1759: The Siege and the Battle is an entertaining yet scholarly account of Great Britain’s efforts to wrest control of Canada from France during the latter stages of the Seven Years’ War. There is little doubt that this was one of the most dramatic and exciting episodes in our history as well as having important and far-reaching results. It brought about the downfall of the French regime in North America and was a major step in establishing British Imperial power. It also affected the development of the United States, for the expulsion of France relieved the American colonists of the need for British protection and opened the door to independence.

In the 225 years since the famous siege and battle, numerous histories of the event have been published. Some authorities pictured James Wolfe as a military genius; others claimed that his military abilities were limited and that his success at Quebec was due entirely to blind luck. There have been equally opposing opinions expressed on the characters and abilities of the two chiefs on the losing side, Montcalm and Vaudreuil.

After more than two centuries, one might think that little could be added to what has already been written. This, however, is not the case. Over the years, a surprising amount of evidence has continued to come to light, some of it quite recently. In writing this history, the author has carefully examined all recently discovered material, in addition to re-examining all other known contemporary documents of both sides. This has enabled him to put forward a new and independent interpretation of the campaign which is impartial, credible, and enlightening.

This book will be of interest both to general readers and to students of history.