L'île d'Orléans [Isle of Orleans, Quebec]

By Pierre Georges Roy

L'île d'Orléans is an essential read for everyone with an interest in French settlement in North America insofar as a large percentage of French Canadians and Franco-Americans can trace their ancestry to early residents of the island. Île d'Orléans has been described as the "microcosm of traditional Quebec and as the birthplace of francophones in North America." This comprehensive history discusses every aspect of the discovery, settlement and development of the island. Filled with references to specific people and events,

The book includes many anecdotal accounts of individuals, places and events that shaped the history of the Isle of Orleans. Several signatures of early inhabitants are reproduced in this essential volume.

Sample pages:

• Table of Contents
• List of black and white illustrations [including signatures of settlers]
• List of coloured illustrations
• Example of a colour plate
  

This is a fine reprint of a scarce English edition that was originally published in 1928. Our edition of L'île d'Orléans contains all of the pages of the original work, including the 14 full colour plates, plus a colour image of the original cover. High resolution pdf of this book is available -- however the printed hardcover edition is out of print.

Background:

Île d'Orléans (Isle of Orleans ) is located in the Saint Lawrence River about five kilometers (three miles) east of Quebec City. The island was one of the first places in the province of Quebec to be colonized by France.

The indigenous Huron called the island Minigo prior to French settlement. The French explorer Jacques Cartier first set foot on the island in 1535 near the present-day village of Saint-François. He called it Île de Bascuz because of the abundance of wild grapes growing on the island. Officials later changed the name to Île d'Orléans in honour of the second son of King Francis I, Henri II, the Duke of Orléans. The island was also temporarily known as Grande Île, Sainte-Marie, and Saint-Laurent for certain periods in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Île d'Orléans is 75 km in circumference. It was granted the status of National Historic District in 1970. Since 1940, access to the island has been by the Pont de l'Île bridge. The crossing connects to the Chemin Royal (Royal Road) which encircles the island. At the village of Sainte-Pétronille toward the western end of the island there is a viewpoint from which one can see the impressive Chute Montmorency (Montmorency Falls) as well as a panorama of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City. The Manoir Mauvide-Genest was constructed in 1734 for Jean Mauvide, a surgeon for the King of France. The manor was occupied by General Wolfe when the island was occupied by the British forces in 1759 shortly before the Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

The island comprises the current-day towns of Sainte-Famille, Saint-François-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Saint-Laurent-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Sainte-Pétronille, and Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans.

Details:

544 Pages
7.25 X 10.75"
B & W illustrations (numerous)
Colour plates (15)
Table of Contents

Originally published by Historic Monuments Commission of the Province of Quebec, Quebec, 1928
This edition published by Global Heritage Press, Milton, 2011
ISBN 978-1-926797-51-9 (hardcover temporarily out of print)