The History of Montréal

July 8, 2013
Covering a saga stretching from the aboriginal settlement of Hochelaga to the 2012 resignation of Mayor Gérald Tremblay, this book provides a breezy introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the history of Montreal. Linteau, a history professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal who has written several books about the city, originally wrote the book for Montreal's 350th anniversary in 1992. This updated edition marks its first appearance in English. The text moves at a good clip, but anyone seeking deeper, more reflective insights into Montreal's past will want to look elsewhereâit falls into the "just the facts, ma'am" school of historical works, and would work well as a textbook. Ideal for readers with a light interest in Montreal's past or tourists looking for more historical context than the average travel guide offers, the book is well-illustrated with historical maps, landscape photos, and drawings from an 18th century aboriginal treaty.

November 1, 2013

Montreal was established in 1642 as a missionary settlement and grew as first the fur trade, then the fashion and banking industries developed. Then it lost much of its economic power later in the 20th century. Linteau (history, Univ. of Quebec-Montreal) seeks to capture almost 400 years in his comprehensive, if brief, overview. His writing is clear and concise, making this 1992 title--now available in English for the first time--accessible to those without extensive knowledge of the city or region. Readers will find out what happened throughout Montreal's history, albeit with less focus why; the significance of major issues such as the Quebec separatist movement of the 1970s is glossed over in exchange for details about new construction, public works, and elections. Numerous maps demonstrate the city's growth into what it is today, and updates for this edition, referring to events as recent as early 2013, make the book current. VERDICT This is a good choice for those looking for an accessible history of this major North American city.--Elizabeth Goldman, Perth & District Union P.L., Ont.

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