D. Peter MacLeod

An excellent book for anyone wanting a detailed description of the year after the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, something most histories of the period omit. It is generally assumed that the Battle of the Plains of Abraham was the end of the story, when there was still another year of the war in Canada, which had, the possibility at least, of reversing the British victory at Quebec in 1759. It may have been a small possibility, although measurements like that are hard to make when analyzing historical events, but it was a real one. The author makes sure that this possibility is kept in historical view and in doing so, outlines many episodes of the time that are little known but extremely interesting. The book also places another nail in the coffin of the idea that Canadian history is basically boring.… (mehr)

The Battle of Quebec

In this historical recount of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, military historican D. Peter MacLeod takes the reader on a day by day, hour by hour, retelling of one of the defining battles of the Seven Years War between the English and the French.

I'll describe what I like most about the book first, then go on to some of its weaknesses. MacLeod has really reached deep into the archives transcribing and interpreting the battle from the perspective of some of its real-life participants. The incredible detail is in itself a remarkable accomplishment.

Intricate details of key players including Wolfe and Montcalm. MacLeod accurately captures the savagery of the scorched earth policy used by the British in attempt to smoke out the French. The battle on the plains, named after Abraham Martin dit l'Ecossais, is the climax of the book with the siege of Quebec and the aftermath that followed. There are about two dozen or so illustrations and paintings of the battle and the key players, all done in color. MacLeod bookends the book contextualizing the overall historical significance of the battle within the larger war and the events that followed it.

A few minor points of contention that I have. Firstly, MacLeod's writing is rather disjointed and he rarely transitions his points choosing rather to write in short paragraphs and short chapters. It makes it very difficult to have a continuous narrative that really captures the reader. Secondly, at times, MacLeod takes a few liberties in hyperbolizing some of his points in an attempt to make sections of his narrative sound more important than they really were, the title of the book is an example of this kind of exaggeration.

Overall, I recommend "Northern Armageddon" especially if you enjoy reading detailed accounts of war and battle or if you enjoy reading about Canadian history.… (mehr)