France and England in North America facts for kids
France and England in North America (ISBN: 1-425-56179-9) is a famous set of history books. They were written by an author named Francis Parkman between 1865 and 1892. These books tell the story of how European countries, especially France and Great Britain, tried to take control of North America. Parkman's books are well-known for describing the many battles and struggles between these two powerful nations. Even today, people think these books are great examples of historical writing.
Contents
The Big Story of France and England in North America
This collection of books dives deep into a very important time in history. It explains how France and England fought for control over vast lands in North America. This wasn't just about land; it was about power, trade, and who would shape the future of the continent. The books cover many years, showing how different events led to big changes.
Who Was Francis Parkman?
Francis Parkman was an American historian who lived from 1823 to 1893. He spent many years researching and writing about the conflicts between France and England in North America. He traveled a lot to see the places he wrote about. Parkman's goal was to make history exciting and easy to understand. He wanted readers to feel like they were right there, experiencing the events. His writing style was so good that his books are still enjoyed today, not just for the facts, but for how well they are written.
Exploring the Books in the Series
The France and England in North America series is made up of several volumes. Each book focuses on a different part of the long struggle. Here are the main books in the series and when they were first published:
- Pioneers of France in the New World (1865): This book looks at the first French explorers and settlers in North America.
- The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century (1867): This volume tells about the Jesuit missionaries. They were priests who traveled to North America to spread their religion.
- The Discovery of the Great West (1869): This book is about explorers who found new lands in the western parts of North America. It was later updated and called La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West in 1879.
- The Old Regime in Canada (1874): This part of the series describes how French Canada was governed before the big wars.
- Count Frontenac and New France under Louis XIV (1877): This book focuses on a key leader, Count Frontenac, and his time ruling New France.
- Montcalm and Wolfe (1884): This is one of the most famous volumes. It tells the story of the final big battles between the French and British, led by generals Montcalm and Wolfe. These battles decided who would control North America.
- A Half-Century of Conflict (1892): This book covers the period of many smaller conflicts that led up to the major wars.
Shorter Versions of the Story
Because the original series is quite long, shorter versions have been made over the years. This allows more people to read and learn from Parkman's work.
- In 1948, a single book called The Battle for North America was published. It was a shorter version put together by John Tebbel.
- Later, in 1983, the Library of America published a two-volume set. This version included all the original text but with helpful notes from David Levin. It was titled France and England in North America.
