Philip Marchand Knihy

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.

The narrative centers on Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, whose ambitious exploration led to the claiming of vast territories for France in 1682. His tragic murder by his crew during a failed mission to Texas marks a pivotal moment in history. The book explores the intriguing possibility of an alternative North America, where a French-speaking empire could have flourished, characterized by Catholicism and a significant role for Native peoples, reshaping the continent's cultural and political landscape.