"Bride of New France"

Suzanne Desrochers grew up in the French-Canadian village of Lafontaine on the shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario. Now based in Toronto, she is currently writing a Ph.D. thesis at King's College, London, comparing the migration of French and British women to North America in the early modern period. She has lived in Paris and Tokyo and traveled extensively throughout Asia. Her travel writing has appeared in Toronto's Now Magazine, and she has presented her history papers at academic conferences and seminars.

Desrochers applied the Page 69 Test to Bride of New France, her first novel, and reported the following:

At this point in the story, Laure realizes she will be sent by the Salpêtrière administrators to Canada. Her feelings are shock and terror. In writing, Bride of New France, I wanted to explore what the concept of choice would have meant for the historical women known as the Filles du roi. I also wanted to make it clear that many did not choose to come to the new world, despite what later historiography or public opinion may have said to the contrary. Finding out she will be sent to Canada makes Laure, who is quite brazen at the hospital, seem much smaller and more powerless.

Learn more about the book and author at Suzanne Desrochers' webpage, and learn more about Bride of New France at the publisher's website.

My Book, The Movie: Bride of New France.

--Marshal Zeringue