Champlain, called the Father of New France, was significant in the early development of colonial settlements in Acadia and in Québec. He contributed to the military defence and fortifications of New France, and led military expeditions against enemy Indians. He was a Geographer Royal of France, a skilled mapmaker, and an energetic community builder. A zealous Christian, he pushed strongly for the evangelization of North American native peoples.
The author is an enthusiast for Canadian history. The book examines early documents, particularly maps and charts, is well illustrated, and contains 40 visual contributions pertinent to Champlain, the colonies, and the discoveries. Armstrong divides his study into 28 chapters. He discusses New France and France in the age of Champlain. He discusses Champlain's early life, mainly as a soldier and then his various voyages to Spain, the West Indies and Central America. Armstrong describes Champlain's first (1603) voyage into the St. Lawrence and then his voyages to Acadia and the settlement at Port-Royal (abandoned 1606-7). The main theme of the book is the planting of the base at Québec, and the fortunes of the French flag there. The 1609 battle against the Iroquois, and the 1610 battle at Sorel, are then analysed, as is Champlain's return to France in 1612. Subsequent explorations of the Ottawa and Hudson rivers, Lake Nipissing and Huronia (Georgian Bay of Lake Huron), the Kawartha Country, and the winter in Huronia, 1615-1616 are discussed. Part of this story is the work of Etienne Brulé, and the remarkable contribution of Recollet and, subsequently, Jesuit missionaries. The book closes with the difficulties of the colony of Québec, and the death of Champlain (1635).
