A Great and Noble Scheme
The Tragic Story of the Expulsion of the French Acadians from Their American Homeland

THIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic, Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voic......more

This book clearly lays out the difference between the French and the British in their approach to colonization of North America. It's a good companion to David Hackett Fischer's Champlain's Dream. Some key points: 1. The French (Acadians) tended to view the native Americans as more-or-less co-equals,......more

When you consider all the awful things that have been done to various groups of people over the last couple centuries, in particular the way Europeans have historically treated Africans and Native Americans, it is easy to understand why the Acadians and THEIR crummy lot have been somewhat forgotten.......more

This is a fantastic read detailing the history and expulsion of the Acadians, an episode that many have all but forgotten. I would particularly recommend this book to those who are of Cajun descent and have done some genealogy work, as the book discusses specific individuals and gives you a feel for......more

Among the particulars of the experience of the Acadiens, I thought this book offered some really interesting insights into the more abstract trends of the period regarding citizenship, individual rights, nation states, etc. The author could have gone more into this. But maybe it's better for the rea......more