In 2012, Suzanne Desrochers published the book Bride of New France. This work tells the story of Laure Beauséjour who is taken from her family and placed in the Salpêtrière, an institution known for housing prostitutes, mentally disabled and the poor in Paris, France. The main character imagines becoming a seamstress and marrying a wealthy man but her dream soon comes to an end. Laure is sent to New France as a “fille du roi” and expected to marry one of the many men living in Ville-Marie. Suzanne Desrochers has delved in to the field of historical fiction. It is the intent of this essay to discuss and assess Desrochers’ portrayal of Ville-Marie in New France as it existed in 1669. More specifically, this paper will determine the historical …show more content…
In the mid part of the seventeenth century, it was only known as a small colony called Ville-Marie. Susanne Desrochers describes the colony as a smaller settlement than Quebec (143). In her description, she suggests that it is the “the last settlement before the forest completely takes over” (Desrochers 140). With the main character, we learn that men and women created Ville-Marie as a “holy place” (Desrochers 154) which was founded by members of the Compagne du Saint Sacrament (Desrochers 135). Jesuit priests brag about their experience converting “savages” to Catholic faith (Desrochers 141). Ville-Marie was founded on May 17, 1642, with of Paul de Chomeday Maisonneuve as its first governor (Miquelon). With the publication of the Jesuit Relations, the dream of founding a Christian mission was a vision to a tax collector named Jérôme le Rover de la Dauversière (Marsh). It was founded as a missionary society with both men and women wanting to share their Christian faith with those in the New World (Simpson 4). It was the farthest settlement in Québec (Costain 148). The founders chose the location because of the junction of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers (Simpson 74). Aside from having a fort of defense, a hospital (founded by Jeanne Mance), a chapel, and housing for settlers, a woman by the name of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys founded the first school (Simpson ii). They were able to provide free education for children of the colonists and to any native children who came to be taught (Simpson 139). However, there was no direct source on the curriculum being taught in the school. It is certain that the children were taught religion and prepared for their First Communion (Simpson 158). Life in Ville-Marie was like life anywhere else in this time of this era. The life in New France was extremely tough and dangerous. (Simpson 169). For immigrants, the Canadian winter would have been different compared to what