Cameron of Lochiel

About the book

Jules D'Haberville and the Scottish exile Archibald Cameron leave their studies in Quebec with a friendship that seems stronger than differences of origin. The hospitality of Jules's family introduces Archie to the customs and affections of a settled community, while coming military service threatens to divide the companions. De Gaspé's historical romance surrounds that central relationship with stories, songs, local memories, and accounts of everyday life before the British conquest. These digressions make the threatened world palpable rather than merely supplying background for a campaign. The narrative looks back affectionately on French Canada while exploring the difficulty of reconciliation after political defeat and personal injury. Charles G. D. Roberts's translation adopts a new title that emphasizes Archie, but preserves the work's broader interest in communal memory.

• Friendship and divided loyalty
• Conquest and reconciliation
• Cultural memory

Why read it

The tales and customs surrounding the two friends show what political change means for an entire way of life.

Charles G. D. Roberts's English translation of Les Anciens Canadiens, 1905 L. C. Page new edition