Jacques Lacoursière (1932–2021)

This concise history of Quebec covers the early explorations, the colonization of French North America, its subsequent takeover by the British after the French and Indian War, and the ongoing struggle to preserve Quebec's French language and unique customs in the face of hostility from non-French Canadians and the huge influx of migrants to Canada. it ends after the second "independence" referendum in 1995, where a slim majority (50.6%) of Quebec citizens chose to continue the status quo.

Being so short, of course, a lot of detail and nuance is missing. But it reads quite well, and even the non-Canadian reader won't find himself having to do a lot of external research to understand what the author is talking about. This is really a perfect introduction for someone wanting to understanding the outline of Quebec's history. I found it to be quite balanced, as well, regarding the question of independence. I'm a bit mystified at the low rating this book has received from other reviewers. It clearly achieves what it sets out to do.… (altro)

This is a whirlwind history of Quebec. It gives the bare essentials of who, what, and when, but with just the barest glimpses of why. It goes up to about 1995 when yet another independence referendum narrowly failed. I liked learning that the switch from fur exports to lumber exports happened around 1805 because of a blockade by Napoleon which forced England to switch suppliers for its naval construction materials.

We're planning a trip up to Quebec in the near future. We're debating how important it is that we learn a bit of French language before we go. Can't say I got the answer, but I got very clear on the political weight involved!… (altro)

Not really a "people's" history but rather a condensed political history of Quebec. A short version of the author's popular 5 volume History of Quebec. I haven't read the long work, but am thinking that I would have been better off to do so. Titling the book "A People's History" of course brings to mind Howard Zinn's classic history of the U.S., although Lacoursiere's book is in no way similar. I would have liked more underdog and resistant stories such as Zinn was known for. Well, the problem may just be that Lacoursiere isn't really a story teller, but a timeline accountant. Not that I don't appreciate timelines as locators when I'm reading history. Dates do matter. Final analysis: A People's History of Quebec has left me looking for another, better History of Quebec.… (altro)

When I attended a conference in Montreal this summer, I realized that I knew very little about the history of Quebec. I picked this book up in hopes of remedying that. This book covers the history of Quebec from the mid-1500s to the present. A number of key historical events are described, and I learned more about the unique forces that have shaped Quebec. However, I wish that I had chosen a book that was slightly longer or that focused on a shorter period of time. This book did little more than simply recount the facts.… (altro)