Full Description
Rosanna Mullins Leprohon's The Manor House of De Villerai, A Tale of Canada Under the French Dominion is a literary milestone—it is the first Canadian historical novel, in English or French, to rewrite the conquest of the French Canadians from the perspective of history's vanquished. Its revisionary account of the fall of New France is framed around a love triangle between the heroine, Blanche De Villerai, her childhood betrothed, Gustave de Montarville, and Blanche's servant, Rose Lauzon. Popular in its original serial publication and once widely reprinted in French translation, but now out of print, The Manor House of De Villerai is a long-overlooked Canadian classic.
In addition to the text originally serialized in the Family Herald magazine, this Broadview Edition includes extensive documents on the novel's reception, Leprohon's historical sources and literary precedents, and maps and art from the period.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Rosanna Mullins Leprohon: A Brief Chronology
A Note on the Text
The Manor House of De Villerai, A Tale of Canada Under the French Dominion
Appendix A: Contemporary Reception of Leprohon's Works
From Susanna Moodie, "Editor's Table," Victoria Magazine(June 1848)
From George P. Ure, "Prospectus of The Family Herald," TheFamily Herald (16 November 1859)
From George P. Ure, "Our First Number," The Family Herald(16 November 1859)
From Henry J. Morgan, "Mrs. Leprohon," Sketches ofCelebrated Canadians (1862)
From Edmond Lareau, Histoire de la littérature canadienne(1874)
From Anon., "The Late Mrs. Leprohon," Canadian Illustrated News (4 October 1879)
Appendix B: Commentary on Canadian Literature and Nationalityin the Confederation Period
From Thomas D'Arcy McGee, "The Mental Outfit of the New Dominion," Gazette (Montreal) (5 November 1867)
From John T. Lesperance, "The Literary Standing of the Dominion," Canadian Illustrated News (24 February1877)
From Edmond Lareau, Histoire de la littérature canadienne (1874)
Appendix C: Literary Precedents
From Samuel Richardson, "Preface by the Editor," Pamela; or,Virtue Rewarded (1740)
From Sir Walter Scott, "A Postscript, Which Should Have Beena Preface," Chapter XXIV of Waverley; or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since(1814)
From John Richardson, "Introductory," Chapter 1 of Wacousta;or, The Prophecy: A Tale of the Canadas (1832)
Appendix D: Historical Sources
From Colonel Malcolm Fraser, Extract from a Manuscript Journal, Relating to the Siege of Quebec in 1759 (1759; rpt. 1866)
From William Smith, "Preface," History of Canada; From Its Discovery to the Peace of 1763 ([1815] 1826)
From William Smith, ["The Battle of Fort Ticonderoga,"] History of Canada; From Its Discovery to the Peace of 1763 ([1815] 1826)
From François-Xavier Garneau, "Preliminary Discourse," History of Canada, From the Time of Its Discovery Till the Union Year(1840-1), Volume 1 (1845; tr. 1860)
From François-Xavier Garneau, ["The Fall of Quebec,"] History of Canada, Volume 2 (1846; tr. 1860)
Appendix E: Historical Documents
From General James Wolfe, "Major-General Wolfe to the Earlof Holdernesse. On Board the Sutherland, at Anchor off CapeRouge, September 9, 1759" ([1759] 1838)
Article IV, Treaty of Paris (1763)
From John George Lambton, First Earl of Durham, Report onthe Affairs of British North America, from the Earl of Durham, HerMajesty's High Commissioner (1839)
From Parliamentary Debates on the Subject of the Confederation ofthe British North American Provinces (1865)
Hon. George-Étienne Cartier, Attorney General East(Montreal East)
Hon. Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Minister of Agriculture(Montreal West)
Hon. L. Letellier de St. Just (Grandville)
Hon. H.G. Joly (Lotbinière)
Mr. C.B. de Niverville (Three Rivers)
Appendix F: Contemporary Maps and Illustrations
From Reuben Gold Thwaites, "Eastern North America (1740)," France in America, 1497-1763 (1905)
John Henry Walker, "Engraving. Winter Attack on Fort William Henry, 1757"
Anon., "A View of the Taking of Quebec September 13th 1759"
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