Backs to the Wall
The Battle of Sainte-Foy and the Conquest of Canada
Description
D. Peter MacLeod is a historian at the Canadian War Museum, and he curated the Seven Years’ War and The Battle of the Plains of Abraham exhibits. His other books include The Canadian Iroquois and the Seven Years’ War and Northern Armageddon.
In the frigid spring of 1760 following the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the Battle of Sainte-Foy was less a battle for territory than a struggle for survival between the French and British armies, two equally desperate adversaries. If the British lost the battle, they would lose Quebec. If the French lost the battle, they would very likely lose Canada. Both the French and the British had their backs to the wall. MacLeod presents this historical event in riveting detail, from the preparation and day-to-day actions during the engagement to the compelling siege of Quebec by land and ship. Backs to the Wall is an accessible and engaging account of an important episode in Canadian history.
Reviews
“Backs to the Wall is a welcome addition to any bookshelf, with general and academic readers alike rewarded by an incisively told story supplemented by a robust bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Thanks to Peter MacLeod, the Battle of Sainte-Foy is no longer in the shade. ”
~ Stephen Bright, Canadian Military History
- Stephen Bright