With Wolfe to Quebec: The Path to Glory.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE/NFINE.No owner inscrptn but price-clip to dw/dj.Colour pictorial illustrated wrap-around dw/dj - painting of 'The Death of Wolfe' by Benjamin West; with minimal shelf-wear to edges but two small closed tears to rear top+bottom edges and reciprocal creases. Lower,rear corner slightly rubbed/chipped with miniscule loss and spine/ backstrip slightly sunned/faded - as usual/ normal.Top edge lightly aged, fore-edge clean,contents bright and near pristine.Maroon cloth boards with black title lable and stamped gilt letters to spine/backstrip with duplicated Quebec+St. Lawrence b/w map endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj, 1st edn,15-224pp includes b/w illustrated half-title page,profuse (217) contemporary b/w plates/illustrations throughout the text,4 b/w maps, appendices(6) includes post-script Havana+Manila,Regiments at Quebec,a select bibliography,acknowledgements,notes on and a list of illustrations and an index. In 1759 the great War Minister,William Pitt,decided to strike at France through her Canadian possessions and the key to these was Quebec - an imposing and almost impregnable citadel standing at the fork of the St. Lawrence and Charles rivers.To storm and take Quebec he chose thirty-two year old James Wolfe,the soldier so much admired by Nelson. Only a few months earlier Wolfe had become secretly engaged,but as a professional soldier he embarked for North America with the utmost enthusiasm.His task was not made easier by the facts that he was opposed by the Marquis de Montcalm,outstanding for his courage and chivalry;the French had recently been reinforced and were making skilful use of savage red Indian auxiliaries; and Wolfe's three brigadiers were highly critical and jealous of his promotion over their heads.Finally,the approach up the St. Lawrence was extraordinarily difficult owing to its complex shoals.On the other hand,Wolfe had been chosen for his superb handling of his men: his expedition included one of the greatest navigators of history,James Cook; and help from Admiral Saunders proved a landmark in the development of combined operations.The advantages were therefore more or less equally divided between the opposing armies.With absorbing skill Oliver Warner,the distinguished naval historian,recounts the fluctuations of the action which led to Wolfe's brilliant victory,death and apotheosis.To follow each stage of the engagement through the accounts of the men who were there - and through the remarkable illustrations collected in this book - is to experience personally one of the three great victories of the annus mirabilis. Please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the value of this item,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!