Bride of New France – Book Review

A first novel by Suzanne Desrochers,  Bride Of New France,  is a unique mix of a historic tale and academic research that unveils the truth behind the legends of les filles du roi. The novel focuses on  Laure a ward of the Louis XIV’s state of France and follows her passage to French Canada in the 1660′s. Notably the novel is written by a historian and is based on her Masters research thesis. The storyline is established on fact rather than the myths that are so often tied to les filles du Roi. These young women were the poor and orphans of France; approximately 800 of them were sent to were sent to French Canada to become the wives of the fur traders and soldiers.  These girls came from the depths of poverty and took on a very harsh land.

Style-wise this is a first novel and it has some rough edges, the flow in some portions early on feels like it is a translation. However it matures as one travels with Lauren on  the two month ships crossing of the  Atlantic ocean. The second half of the book is hard to put down. For history buffs this is a good read with its clear depiction of the social and economic realities of the brides of New France.

Bride Of New France by Suzanne Desrochers

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