William H. Atherton's historical work traces the evolution of Montreal from its earliest documented contact with European explorers to the conclusion of the French colonial era. The narrative opens with Jacques Cartier's arrival at Hochelaga in fifteen thirty-five, detailing his ascent of the St. Lawrence River and his ascent of the mountain he named Mont Royal. The account details the prolonged period of neglect following Cartier's voyages, during which the region served primarily as a seasonal trading ground for fishermen and fur traders.
The foundation of permanent colonization is examined through the efforts of Samuel de Champlain, who established trading posts and recognized the strategic geographical importance of the island. The text addresses Champlain's fateful alliance with the Algonquins and Hurons against the Iroquois, a political decision that provoked enduring hostility and deeply affected the safety of future settlements. The narrative transitions to the formal establishment of Ville Marie in sixteen forty-two by Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance, acting on behalf of the pious Associates of the Company of Notre Dame de Montreal.
The central problem posed throughout the work is the struggle to establish a viable, Christianized settlement amidst the constant threat of Iroquois attacks and administrative friction between Montreal and the central government in Quebec. The author details the daily hardships, the heroic defense of the fort, and the arrival of religious communities, including the Sulpicians and the Grey Nuns under Madame d'Youville. The social, economic, and administrative systems, particularly the seigneurial land tenure and the growth of the fur trade, are systematically explored.
The later chapters recount the transition of New France into a royal colony under Louis the fourteenth, the military campaigns led by figures like Frontenac and de Callières, and the gradual economic progress characterized by agriculture, local industries, and municipal regulations. The narrative addresses the final years of the French regime, marked by the Seven Years' War, the scarcity of provisions, and the ultimate fall of Montreal to British forces in seventeen sixty. The volume concludes with an analysis of the lasting heritage of the French period, emphasizing how the early struggles shaped the unique personality and civic identity of modern Montreal.
