Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book
Review: A wonderful history of the French and Indian War. Every once in a while Parkman seems to slant his story telling in a manner of his beliefs, but then, what author doesn't? Also, after reading many, many books on this time period, I have found that not all books agree on all points. Whether the others or Parkman is inaccurate, I do not know. In any case, for the price of this book, you are getting a bargain. For that matter, at any price it would be worth reading. For anyone interested in this time period, this is a book they will want to read. Even people who don't enjoy history could read this book as a novel and find it worth the reading. This is a book I am glad I didn't miss.
Rating: 
Summary: Masterpiece is not enough
Review: An old edition of this book was given to me a few years ago and I must admit that it is by far the best book I ever read about New France (French part of Canada before 1759). Being a French Canadian, the book helped me learn so much about my French history and how close we came to dominating the continent. Our history school books ... were written by the Roman Catholic clergy. I am very impressed with Mr Parkman's work and I wish that every French Canadian (especially the Québécois)could read his book. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Great History
Review: As has been said, Montcalm and Wolfe is Parkman's masterpiece. It was the first thourough account of the French and Indian War and contains some of the most detailed descriptions of the people, places, and events that shaped the North American theater of the first truly global conflict. Here we encounter the dramatic events which lead toward the final confrontation for dominion over the continent. We see a young Virginia Colonel named George Washington leading troops into battle for the first time at Fort Necessity, Braddock's fateful campiagn along the Monogahela, the massacres at Fort Oswego and William Henry by the Indians under Montcalm, the fall of Fort Dusquene, and finally, the culmination of many long and bloody battles, the capture of Quebec and the almost romanticized deaths of Montcalm and Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham. What is truly interesting is that we see the war through the eyes of someone still living in a time when the Indian wars of the west were still being fought and when the country was in the grip of Manifest Destiny and, as a result, Parkman is often very harsh in his views of the Indians and their "savage" ways. Yet, even so, he often gives them more credit than most of his contemporaries. It is unforunate that today so little is taught or learned about this important event in American history. Today, it seems that the French and Indian War is all but ignored save for being mentioned as a prelude to the American Revolution which it helped spawn rather than as the major turning point in the history of North America and the world. For it is this bloody conflict, fought in the unending wilderness of America, where French regulars and courer de bois crept through the dark woods alongside painted Huron and Ottawa warriors to attack the English settlements, and young redcoated soliders marched shoulder to shoulder to their horrific deaths by rifle ball and tomahawk, that gave birth to what would become the Untied States and changed the course of world history. But even more than that, it is a fascinating period of history more powerful than any piece of fiction. This is history of the highest order. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great History
Review: As has been said, Montcalm and Wolfe is Parkman's masterpiece. It was the first thourough account of the French and Indian War and contains some of the most detailed descriptions of the people, places, and events that shaped the North American theater of the first truly global conflict. Here we encounter the dramatic events which lead toward the final confrontation for dominion over the continent. We see a young Virginia Colonel named George Washington leading troops into battle for the first time at Fort Necessity, Braddock's fateful campiagn along the Monogahela, the massacres at Fort Oswego and William Henry by the Indians under Montcalm, the fall of Fort Dusquene, and finally, the culmination of many long and bloody battles, the capture of Quebec and the almost romanticized deaths of Montcalm and Wolfe at the Plains of Abraham. What is truly interesting is that we see the war through the eyes of someone still living in a time when the Indian wars of the west were still being fought and when the country was in the grip of Manifest Destiny and, as a result, Parkman is often very harsh in his views of the Indians and their "savage" ways. Yet, even so, he often gives them more credit than most of his contemporaries. It is unforunate that today so little is taught or learned about this important event in American history. Today, it seems that the French and Indian War is all but ignored save for being mentioned as a prelude to the American Revolution which it helped spawn rather than as the major turning point in the history of North America and the world. For it is this bloody conflict, fought in the unending wilderness of America, where French regulars and courer de bois crept through the dark woods alongside painted Huron and Ottawa warriors to attack the English settlements, and young redcoated soliders marched shoulder to shoulder to their horrific deaths by rifle ball and tomahawk, that gave birth to what would become the Untied States and changed the course of world history. But even more than that, it is a fascinating period of history more powerful than any piece of fiction. This is history of the highest order. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for today
Review: As literature, its as good as historical writing gets. As history, its racist to the bone.
Rating:
Summary: A classic about the struggle for domination of N. America
Review: I was impressed by the work and analysis that Francis Parkman gave to the French-Indian War and the background of the war between England and France that spilled over to the North American continent. The background of the conflict was very interesting and I learned some points about it that I hadn't known before. Not only does Parkman give detail about the struggle in the present day United States, but also the struggle for Canada. The jealousy and rivalry between England and France was enourmous and in its path alot of victims were made such as the Native Americans and English and French Colonists. Two cultures that were very similiar, yet could not exist peacefully with each other, even across the Atlantic. The British may have won this war but their troubles were only beginning in America. This book was written over a century ago, yet it's language by the author and text make it a very interesting read and is considered a classic. Very Highly Recommended to all who want to know more about the history of Colonial North America.
Rating:
Summary: An Epic Read for An Underrated War
Review: Parkman "wrote the book" on the French and Indian War and created a benchmark for historians that has stood on its merits since published in 1884. Moreover, Parkman creates a primer on making history real and exciting for the reader. His writing style bridges the century since he wrote it. This book is one of seven in Parkman's series "The French and English in North America". Each volume was intended to stand alone. This, the final and most popular volume, covers the fall of Quebec and events leading up to it. The first chapter alone, "The Combatents" does an extraordinary job of setting the scene in Europe that led to this savage wilderness war in North America. Also of interest will be the foreword which paints a vivid picture of the unusual Mr. Parkman. "Montcalm and Wolfe" reads well, provides a sense of "being there" and must be one of the great histories not only of the battle for North America, but of European history as well.
Rating:
Summary: A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL BOOK
Review: Parkman portrays a very well researched and detailed account of one least known wars of history of the American colonies. The colonial policies of both the French and English in the new world are analyzed in detail and and correlated with subsequent events during the period of the war. The French absolutist and centralized style of rule vs. the more decentralized and democratic (not quite as democratic as after the Revolution) system of combining royal govonerships with elected assmeblies in the British colonies. He explains the inherent strengths and weakness' of both systems and where and when they were manifested during the war. The battle acounts are typical of 19th century historiography which relies mostly on individual accounts. This does not indicate a weakness in relaibity of the facts, but one has to keep in mind that a certain amount of exaggerations and colorfulness might exist. The best example is the portrayal of the Native Americans which are constantly referred to as savages and accused of excessive acts of violance, cannabalism and uncivility. The social and religious prejudice toward the indians of the colonist of the 18th century in relating these accounts as well as some remants of same kind attitude in the late 19th century (Parkman's time) might not be very palatable for one living in more PC and tolerant times. However, right or wrong it was dominant attitude the period. Also, the portrayal of individual combatants on each side of their opposites (both white and indian) does give a unique view into the savagry of colonial warfare compare to European warfare of the times. Parkman does an absolute great job in setting up scenary of untamed wilderness and how it effected the fighting and logistic conditions of both sides. One feels the plight of troops on the march on miles upon miles of broken ground and dense vegetation coverage which made every mile feel like 10 on the open fields of Europe. The uncertainty and fear felt by men fighting in the dense underbrush which one could not even see ones foe properly. The clash of European battlefield tactics and colonial forest fighting is felt the most in Braddock's defeat near Fort Duquesne. Here the martial might of old world meets the new, and it gives birth to a whole new style: a mixture which will be utilized throughout the rest of conflict and make it stand apart of the rest of fighting of the Seven Years War that encompassed the entire globe. In global matters, Parkman stresses the importance of control of the American colonies for next dominant naval power of the 19th century. He indicates that by alloting more resources to fight Fredrick on the continent, the French lost thier chance to rule the oceans and and empire comaprable to the British version in 19th century. He also belives that the ejection of the French from Canada created a ripe situation for the American War of Independence. As long as the French were a threat the British colonies needed the protection of the mother country. Also fighting the French brought the 13 British colonies closer than they had been before the war which helped to set stage for thier next united effort. In all, Parkman does good job portaying the diferent aspects of the French and Indian War. One complaint I had was lack of a good map for Wolfe's seige of Quebec, especially his route from Wolfe's Cove to the Fields of Abraham. Another was the lack of good map of French forts and settlemnts on the Great Lakes which were the key to thier holdings in the interior of continent.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent account of a forgotten World War
Review: The French and Indian War was a theatre of conflict that was part of the true FIRST WORLD WAR, it is a shame the historians seem to forget that. Francis Parkman does not. He is a classic author that gives a brilliant detailed account of the French and Indian War. The battles, politics both in Europe and North America and major players in the war are brought to life in this classic work. A must read for anyone interested in colonial North America.
Rating:
Summary: History at its best
Review: This is history as it was meant to be written: romantic prose without glibness, attention to detail without scholarly pendantry. Unfortunately Parkman's 19th cent. perspective makes him untouchable by today's politically correct educational establishment. They might indeed be horrified to find his writing balanced and relatively free from bias.
This is the last of 7 books Parkman wrote on the struggle for N.America between the French, English and First Nations. As such it is the climax and culmination of an epic adventure. Parkman writes history the way renaissance craftsmen moulded sculpture; often incurring great agony to deliver a masterpiece. Parkman battled with many mental ailments including severe depression. That he completed these works is a testament to tenacity, that they are enduring works of superior, first hand research and prose is a testament to his genius.
Of course, there are shortcomings. Parkman is least sympathetic with the French, who as a descendent of Puritanism abhors their catholicism. This may seem abundantly clear in his assessment of the expulsion of acadians. But whatever opprobrium the British deserve the duplicity and corruption the Quebec authorities is equally as culpable for their fate.
Parkman's strengths far outweigh his weaknesses and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone as a jumping point for learning about the early history of N. America.
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