The Canadian Army Journal

A HISTORY OF THE FRENCH WAR—ENDING IN THE
CONQUEST OF CANADA
JOHNSON, Rossiter. Pub: Heritage Books Inc.2007. (A facsimile reprint of the 1882 Edn)
381 pages. ISBN: 978-0-7884-1464. $ 31.50 US
Reviewed by Lt Col K W Kiddie, MA (CANTAB)
A History of the French War—Ending in the
Conquest of Canada is a fascinating book in that
it is a modern reprint of an 1882 original
publication, and as such does not conform to the
current accepted layout of modern history
publications. The chapters are preceded by a
small synopsis of what is contained in each
chapter, thereby aiding the reader as to what is
placed where in the volume. Time lines are
indicated by a superscript on each page giving
the year of occurrence, which is a very helpful
tool. What is a major contrast with today’s
modern histories is that there are virtually no
footnotes, no section of notes/ footnote
explanation at the end of the volume and there is
no bibliography. There is a small but
comprehensive index and there are very few (just
three) pictures. There is also no map included in
the volume, which, given the large numbers of
places described in the book, can cause some
geographic confusion. However the book was
written at a time when this was very much the
style and would not have caused comment at the
time. Another major difference from today’s
publications is the absence of political correctness in the style of writing. For example
the First Nation peoples throughout are called “Indians” and on occasions referred to as
“the red man”. Other sections of society are referred to as peasants, settlers (etc) all of
which jars slightly to our modern views, but were perfectly acceptable at the time of the
original publication. These minor aspects apart, this is an excellent insight into historical
scholarship of the late 19th century.
As to the content of the book itself, it is far more comprehensive than the title would
indicate. When I first saw the title I assumed (erroneously) that the French War referred
to was the “French and Indian War” or the “Seven Years War” and that it would be a
discourse on the campaign in Canada culminating with Wolfe’s victory on the Plains of
Abraham. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the book covered the Anglo French
rivalry and conflict from the earliest times charting the struggle from the initial colonists’
claims in around 1500. In the event, about half of the book is dedicated to the earlier
struggles, listed variously as King William’s War, Queen Anne’s War and King George’s
War (this one known in Europe as the War of the Austrian Succession). There are other
chapters which deal with subjects such as the French expansion in to the West and the
fate of the Acadians.
It was this half of the book that I found really very interesting and informative,
covering sectors of history which have been somewhat sidelined by the recent greater
interest in the later French and Indian War. There is a wealth of detail contained and
Canadian Army Journal Vol. 11.1 Spring 2008 133