Ghost Empire: How the French Almost Conquered North America

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The narrative intertwines history, travel, and memoir as Philip Marchand retraces La Salle's seventeenth-century explorations while seeking remnants of France's North American legacy. He examines La Salle's complex character and the impact of Jesuit missionaries and fur traders on indigenous nations. The account reveals how a different historical trajectory could have led to a French-speaking North America. Marchand also reflects on his own Catholic upbringing, exploring the enduring cultural influences and historical ironies from Montreal to Louisiana.