Book 11 - Angélique à Québec

This page is a devoted to a compilation and intelligent speculation about the content of Book 11 based on what is available in the literary world but not yet available in English translation - 'Angélique in Québec'.

The Book

Quebec Book Cover Angélique à Québec - is the eleventh (main) title in the series (if you count Marquise of the Angels and Road to Versailles as two volumes and Countess and Temptation as single volumes each). Not only is it the eleventh title but it is also the first book in the third and final 'trilogy' which was then to have culminated with a one-off final volume (the fourteenth) which would have brought Angélique and Joffrey back to the continent and the glittering realm of the Sun King - in effect the Peyracs would have gone full circle if not necessarily circumventing the globe! The trilogy referred to follows on from the first six (or five) volumes which encompassed 'Angélique, Marquise of the Angels' through to 'Angélique in Love.' These books cover the life of Angélique from childhood to maturity, motherhood, widowhood, entrepreneur, survivor, rebel, outcast (more than once) and are set firm in France with the occasional foray to the Middle East and the Mediterranean borders. The setting moves to the New World, as it was then known, encompassing New England and Canada from the book entitled 'Countess Angélique' in the English translation but more sensibly called 'Angélique et le Nouveau Monde' (Angélique and the New World [not, 'in the New World']) in the original French. Two books follow 'Temptation' and 'Demon.' However, this is not a trilogy as the publishers went ahead with 'Ghosts' (another oblique translation, although 'Dziady' in Polish does mean 'Forefathers' although the word is also used for a male grandparent) which was never meant to be a book in itself. It was, in fact, supposed to be the introductory section to 'Québec', which in view of some of the storylines might have explained why particular points of action were written into the journey up the estuary ....... The original title was 'Angélique et le Complot des Ombres' - which translates into 'a conspiracy of shadows.' It makes eminent sense, all conspiracies are Fleur de Lys shadowy, secretive and unclear but not ghost-like! Having sailed up the estuary the next big step (literally) is for Angélique and Joffrey to disembark onto French Canadian sovereign soil. That, is where 'Ghosts' left the English-only reading fans and a satisfactory answer from the publishers was never received by those who queried the denouement of the series and who were desperate to know the end of the story. A fan base which still exists today! Others like myself have read the conclusion in either French (which they have taught themselves for the sole purpose of reading these books), or rely on 'unauthorised' translations which are available on a private basis although there is a Russian website which has published them all and which can be google-translated into any language. Others, like myself, have read the books in an alternative language, in my case Polish. I bought the entire set in Polish so that I could get to know the story from a Polish perspective - I found many variations in all the books - some new (and very exciting) embellishments to the story I knew so well from the English format, and some gross omissions which the Polish-only speaking readers will never catch up. By the time I came to the end of 'Ghosts' I was able to tackle comfortable the nuances of the last three books and pat myself on the back because having, in desperation read the French originals (this is what taught me to read all the Polish books, because I felt a certain hostility and antipathy towards the characters in French having got used to the English portrayals) I was able to confirm that I had understood around 90% of what I had read in French. It was strange though that in the case of Victoire I mostly remembered the time in the frozen lodge, as in Sultan I had remembered the desert trek, both of which actually took up less than about 20% of the whole. It's nice to re-read as the bits you forget are so refreshing and add so much to the storylines! How can the publishers say that there would be no further commissioning of translations due to 'lack of interest'! Yes, that is exactly what Heinemann's wrote to me in answer to my query way back in 1984, and one of these days I will find that letter and publish it on this website - that's a promise! And so, Books 11 (Québec), 12 (Espoir) and 13 (Victoire), if translated would have brought us to what was to have been Anne Golon's triumphant conclusion to this magnificent and memorable saga. The conclusion to the series (originally forecast as projected to come in two volumes) was eventually announced as an all-in-one by Anne Golon herself to be called 'Angélique et le Royaume de France' which would complete the story without killing off any of the major characters. I think her fans needed to know that, so embroiled have they been for years waiting for a conclusion whether they had reached Book 10 or Book 13. As we now know, Anne Golon died last (2017) year on Bastille Day, but right up to the end she had been working on concluding the series and rectifying unauthorised editing to her original volumes which can be found in the 'Intégrale' section of this website. Whether Book 14 is in a position to be published yet we don't know but we can hope .... we've already waited long enough!

Russian Quebec Estonian_Quebec

I found these examples of the book from Eastern Europe, the cover is Russian and the frontispiece from an Estonian version of 'Angélique in Québec' which captures the disembarkation of the Peyracs into the grand and corrupt city of Québec still firmly under the thumb of the Court of Versailles.

And so back to Book 11, the beginning of the end and once again a change of scenery and, apart from the principals, a big change of cast! Anne Golon, in a memorable interview after she moved the principals to the New World, had said that she realised she might alienate a large portion of her readership by moving the 'goalposts' but she was prepared to take the risk. It may be that by steering the characters back to French soil she might further alienate her readers by taking a retrograde step but the publishers weren't thinking about that judging by the preview of the book they were offering which is reproduced here :

Angélique in Québec - Volume XI - a romantic novel by Anne and Serge Golon

Angelique in Quebec Edition Trevise

The original and first edition Trévise cover

"On a misty morning in November in distant Canada, Québec's population watched with mounting apprehension the approach of a great but unrecognisable fleet of ships, none bearing any identifying flags, along the majestic river.

Friends of foes? Who were these new arrivals?

Aboard their personal ship Angélique and her husband Joffrey de Peyrac, also looked anxiously on as they drew ever closer to Québec's shores. Here, the King of France, who had banished them reigned supreme. It could only take one word, and his representatives would arrest, judge and condemn them in his name.

Joffrey de Peyrac, welcomed the challenge as becomes a nobleman. Beside him, magnificently attired, Angélique was preparing to rise to a different personal challenge. Would she be able to stand up to the hostility of the accusations made against her by a powerful Jesuit in Québec, who was broadcasting far and wide that she was a creature of the Demon, a rumour that had found credence locally amongst the superstitious, who believed the stories of fabled spirits and the intransigent religious fanatics. Would she be able to dissipate their doubts, charm them, fascinate them, conquer them? Could she, during the period of this difficult Canadian winter, in the close proximity of this closed society behind impenetrable prison-like walls become accepted, liked? Could she overcome the ingrained prejudices and hatred arising from the rhetoric; denounce and dispel the conspiracies disseminated by her relentless enemies in an attempt to bring her down? Could she prevent herself falling victim to the subtle dangers, which menaced her uncompromising love for her husband? Could she successfully defend herself against those alluringly sparkling rivals who were drawn to Count Peyrac's seductive charm which proved as irresistible to them as do flames to a moth? And finally, the situation created by their King, Louis XIV, who propelled by a desire for peace and justice, had pardoned the sorcerer burnt at the stake in the Place de Grève, and the Rebel of Poitou whose memory for the King of France would always be like a stab in the heart.

Angelique in Quebec publisher's synopsis

Edition Trévise, the publishers of the hardback versions announced the arrival of volume XI in the manner shown above - right down to the number of pages, font type, page size, paper weight, colour wave and type of voile covering.

And how, in Québec, that lost city, abandoned to the far reaches of the world across a dark ocean, covered in a cruel livery of cold and ice inhabited by the Iroquois savages who were sworn to destroy them, was she expected to survive this terrible winter. Was it to be until this prison of ice cracked and released them, the river thawed and regenerated to allow the Royal Ships from France to enter bringing with them the confirmation of their pardon from the King?

Add to the mix the historical characters such as Governor Frontenac, the Bishop of Québec, Monseigneur de Montmorency-Laval and hitherto unknown historical surprises and revelations and you get an unabridged and sumptuous view of New France during the reign of the Sun King.

Characters, strangely modern, who were, in effect the first pioneers and forefathers of French Americans, add to the rich fabric that has been the lifestyle of the marvellous Angélique born in the 17th century and retains her sparkle and beauty, her feminine personality, her charm, her audacity, her humanity which altogether gives her the face of the 'new modern pioneering' woman so familiar in today's world." Translation of the synopsis shown above by myself.

Inhabitants of Quebec

Inhabitants of Québec - image sourced from Library & Archives, Canada

Quebec Habitat

Monseigneur de Champlains' Habitation - image courtesy of Look Backward.com - translation sourced from numeriq.banq.qc.ca

A - Le Magasin - The Shop
B - Colombier - The Dovecote
C - Corps de logis où sont nos armes & pour loger les ouvriers - Arsenal, stables and lodgings for the workmen
D - Autre corps de logis pour les ouvriers - Main building for the workmen
E - Cadran - Sundial
F - Autre corps de logis où est la forge & artifans logés - The Forge & lodgings for the craftsmen/artisans
G - Galleries tout au tour des logements - A gallery surrounding the dwelling, making a circuit of the buildings
H - Logis du sieur de Champlain - Sieur de Champlains' lodging house
I - La porte d'habitation où il y a pont-levis - Entrance with drawbridge
L - Promenoir autour de l'habitation contenant 10 pieds de large jusque sur le bord du fossé - the Promenade around the dwelling ten feet in total o the edge of the moat
M - Fossé rout autour de l'habitation - moat encircling the dwelling
N - Plates-formes, en facon de tenailles pour mettre le canon - Platforms to support the cannons
O - Jardin du sieur de Champlain - Sieur de Champlains' garden
P - La cuisine - The Kitchen
Q - Place devant l'habitation fur le bort de la rivière - Open space on the riverbank
R - La grande rivière de fainét Lorens - The great St Lawrence River

5cent stamp issued in 1908 in Canada featuring the Habitat

Celebrating the tercentenary in 1908 of Monseigneur de Champlains' dwelling based in a sketch of his own - image courtesy & © of Canadian Postage Stamps.ca

Quebec - Capital of New France

From the Winkworth Collection: A Treasure House of Canadiana in London 1 April 2015, London, South Kensington
Thomas Johnston, engraver (c.1708-1767) Québec, the capital of New-France, a Bishoprick and seat of the Sovereign Court - image courtesy of Christie's

The Administration

From Francis I to Henry IV, the feudal system of delegation allowed the King to save money by assigning to a private individual the responsibility—at his own expense—of governing, organizing and defending the conquered territories. This person, initially appointed as Lieutenant-General to the King, was after 1578 given the title of "viceroy", following the Spanish and Portuguese example. In exchange for trade privileges, private companies subsequently undertook to populate the colony and, in collaboration with the King's representatives, to administer it and enforce justice. In 1663, Louis XIV took back control of France's activities in North America by making New France a province in its own right, modelled on those of the home country, complete with a Governor, Intendant and Sovereign Council. The Governor and Intendant, who essentially controlled the colony, administered but did not govern: they received regular and detailed instructions from Versailles. There were two particular governors in Montréal and Trois-Rivières, and three law courts, which had the seigneurial courts under their jurisdiction, as well as a chief road officer. In principle, the Governor of Acadia was subordinate to the Governor of Québec; in fact, he was independent and answered directly to the home country. Over the years, various administrative offices and positions came into being: admiralty courts, a comptroller's office answerable to the Secretary of State for the Marine, an office of agents for the treasurers-general under the general control of finance, an administrator of the royal domain, a director of shipbuilding, an inspector of fortifications, and a captain of the port of Québec. Attached to these various offices were all the necessary support staff, including writers, registrars, clerks and quartermasters.

The Nobility

Like their counterparts in French society, the nobles of New France, though few in number, occupied a position of privilege. Favoured by the Crown, which granted them seigneuries, fur-trading licences and positions in the civil administration, they were for the most part military officers who played an important role in the various wars and negotiations with the Aboriginal peoples. Being noble did not, as in France, preclude commercial activity, and offices conferring nobility could never be bought. Nobility was granted for personal merit and by order of the King. To the 170 nobles who immigrated—Claude de Ramezay, for example—were added 11 Canadians. One of these was Robert Giffard, who received letters of nobility from the King of France "in the hope we cherish that being honoured to this degree and with a noble title in the country of New France that he will emulate the actions of the nobility and that he and his family will render us the services that those in this position owe to us." After the Treaty of Paris of 1763, many nobles left the colony, and those who remained had difficulty holding onto their rank and fortune.

The Population

The Royal Administration in New France applied its policy of getting to know the population of its kingdom by carrying out regular censuses. This type of enumeration was not conducted in France until the reign of Napoleon I. As a result, more is known about the number of inhabitants, family structures, trades and urban-rural distribution in the colony than in the other provinces of France. Low immigration during the 17th and 18th centuries meant that despite high birth rates, the population remained small: in 1760, there were some 85,000 inhabitants, as compared to 2 million in the English colonies. Canada accounted for some 75,000 people, concentrated mainly in the St. Lawrence Valley; 5,000 lived in the areas of Acadia still under French rule, which comprised Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island) and Île Royale (Cape Breton Island), with Louisbourg as the main settlement; 900 inhabited the Pays d'en haut (the Great Lakes region) and the outpost at Detroit; and 4,000 inhabitants lived in Louisiana.

The Important Stages of Life

Regardless of their social status, the lives of the inhabitants of New France were recorded in the many official papers produced at key moments in their existence—birth, marriage and death, entry into a religious community, old age, the separation of a couple. These documents enable a reconstruction of the diverse destinies of individual men and women, and give a glimpse of their extended family and the ties they maintained with France. They also contain references to the objects used in their daily lives and to their financial situations. Visual images of the inhabitants of Canada and their lifestyles are, however, extremely rare.

The Regulation of Everyday Life

As the population grew, particularly in the cities and towns, and the colony's administration was gradually established, daily life in New France became increasingly regulated. There were also many strict religious interdicts issued by the Church of New France. This new zeal was brought on by the influence of the Catholic Reformation, and was much concerned with the moral discipline of the inhabitants. A remarkable number of rulings, ordinances, statutes and pastoral letters were issued on every aspect of life, particularly areas where the civil and religious authorities perceived a threat to public order and safety. The fact that some of these rulings had to be repeated many times is an indication of how difficult it was for the State to apply them, given the lack of methods of coercion and repression.

Education

Education was almost exclusively the responsibility of the Church. In the cities and towns (Montréal, Québec, Louisbourg and Trois-Rivières), instruction was provided by religious orders such as the Ursulines, the Charron Brothers, the Sulpicians and the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame. Primary schools were created to teach reading, writing and arithmetic, and by 1760, there were about 30 schools for boys and 15 schools for girls. The schoolteachers, who were sometimes itinerant, came under the control of the parish priests. There were also two trade schools, one in Saint-Joachim and one in Montréal, where young men could learn a profession or craft. New France's only institution of higher learning was the Jesuit College in Québec, where there was a chair in hydrography and professors who taught law, chemistry, physics, geometry and the art of navigation. Education was accessible to a minority of the population, and very few people were able to sign their name. Only a few members of the elite possessed a library.

Medical Care

Although the colonial population suffered occasional epidemics of smallpox and typhus, they were less devastating than those that struck in France. A medical corps consisting of a small group of doctors, surgeons and apothecaries looked after the health of Canadians. The Intendants played a vital role in establishing an efficient medical system and introducing public health regulations. There was particular concern for the medical care offered to soldiers, for example, and also related to the introduction of midwives, whose status was strictly controlled by the authorities. Generally speaking, people were born and died in their own homes. The sick were cared for in hospitals that resembled those in Europe: there was one ward for men and another for women, and a chapel whose altar had to be visible to all patients. The Hôtel-Dieu and general hospitals in Québec, Montréal and Trois-Rivières were founded and run by female religious communities; their doors were open not only to the sick, but also to poor people, beggars and the elderly, who were expected to help with the work. Most of the plant and mineral products used in the colony's pharmacopoeia came from France, although a number of indigenous plants and some Aboriginal practices were integrated over the years.

Taverns and Inns

Many taverns, easily identifiable by their signs, were to be found in the cities and towns of New France including Québec, Montréal and Louisbourg. Such establishments could also be found in the country. For the working classes, they were a place to meet and exchange ideas, and the civil and religious authorities regarded them with suspicion, seeing them as locations of potential violence and debauchery. Inns, which were less common, provided accommodation and nourishment to the elite visiting the towns. Professional cooks, usually from France, worked for the colony's leading personages, or ran pastry shops, catering businesses and inns. The sale of alcoholic beverages, kept under close surveillance by the administration, was subject to numerous regulations designed to preserve moral standards among both Aboriginal peoples and the French population. The most popular drinks were wine, Bordeaux in particular, and spirits. Other types of wine were also imported to the colony from Champagne, Navarre, the Canary Islands and Frontignan, and locally brewed beer was consumed regularly by the inhabitants. Source : Library & Archives, Canada