Paths of Glory: The Life and Death of General James WolfeWINNER: 2008 C. P. STACEY PRIZE (Best book in Canadian Military History) WINNER: 2008 DISTINGUISHED BOOK AWARD, SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS Ugly, gangling, and tormented by agonising illness, Major General James Wolfe was an unlikely hero. Yet in 1759, on the Plains of Abraham before Quebec, he won a battle with momentous consequences. Wolfe's victory, bought at the cost of his life, ensured that English, not French, would become the dominant language in North America. Ironically, by crippling French ambitions on this continent Wolfe paved the way for American independence from Britain. Already renowned for bold leadership, Wolfe's death at the very moment of victory at Quebec cemented his heroic status on both sides of the Atlantic. He became an icon of patriotic self-sacrifice, immortalised in epic paintings and verse. During the past half century, however, Wolfe's reputation has undergone sustained assault by revisionist historians who see him as a bloodthirsty and self-righteous mediocrity, famous for one singularly lucky - though crucial - victory. Was there more to James Wolfe than a celebrated death? Stephen Brumwell's internationally praised biography seeks to answer that question, drawing on extensive research to offer a boldly argued reassessment of a soldier whose short but dramatic life changed the course of world history. |
Contents
First Campaign | 17 |
Rebellion 8 | 47 |
The Frustrations of Peace | 67 |
Copyright | |
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48th Foot Aemilius Irving Amherst amongst army's assault attack August Barré battalions batteries battle Beauport boats brigadiers Britain's British Army camp Canada Canadian Captain Colonel colonies command Culloden Cumberland death December defenders despatch Despite Dettingen Duke enemy enemy's England expedition father fight fire fleet Foot force Foulon France Fraser's French garrison George grenadiers Halifax Hawley Hervey Smyth Highlanders honour ibid Isaac Barré Jacobite James Wolfe Jeffery Amherst John JSAHR July June King Knox Knox's Journal landing Lauffeldt Letters of Wolfe Lévis Lieutenant Lieutenant-Colonel Ligonier London Lord Louisbourg Louisbourg Grenadiers Major Major-General James Wolfe March McCord Museum military Monckton Montcalm Montmorency mother Murray Murray's naval North America Northcliffe Collection numbers obliged October officers orders Pitt Point Lévis Pointe-aux-Trembles rank redcoats regiment remained reported Rickson Robert Monckton Rochefort Royal Royal Navy Saunders September 1759 ships Siege of Quebec soldiers soon St Lawrence Townshend troops victory Westerham whilst William Willson Wolfe London wounded wrote