The King's Daughter
Encyclopedia
The King's Daughter is a historical novel for young adult readers by Suzanne Martel
, first published in 1964. It follows the life of Jeanne Chatel, one of the King's Daughters
of New France
in the seventeenth century.
The two girls arrive in New France in August, 1672 and are welcomed by the Lieutenant, their fiancées and a group of Hurons. Marie, having fallen in love along the way, becomes saddened at the thought of marrying someone else. Jeanne realizes that in order for Marie to be happy, someone else must marry the man that was chosen for her. Jeanne then takes the decision to get married in Marie's place. When Jeanne meets her new husband, she is sorely disappointed. Simon de Rouville is rude, callous, and unfriendly. However, the ever-determined Jeanne decides to stay and make the best of her situation.
As her new life in the wilderness begins, Jeanne faces many hardships. And, in spite of constantly being told that she reminds everyone of Simon's first wife, Aimee, Jeanne stays to make a better life for her husband and his two children, Nicholas and Isabelle. Eventually, Jeanne and Simon fall in love with each other, and Jeanne grows strong as a result of her new life. She also cultivates her talents as a healer and becomes well known in the area.
The book ends with an attack from the Iroquois
aboriginals, a constant threat in New France. The de Rouville family survives, after many other conflicts.
Suzanne Martel
Suzanne Martel is a French-Canadian author.Martel currently resides in Montreal, Canada...
, first published in 1964. It follows the life of Jeanne Chatel, one of the King's Daughters
King's Daughters
The King's Daughters were between 700 and 900 Frenchwomen who immigrated to New France between 1663 and 1673 under the monetary sponsorship of Louis XIV. The government sponsored them so settlers in the colony could marry and start families to populate New France...
of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
in the seventeenth century.
Plot
Jeanne Chatel is an orphan who lives with her grandfather until he dies of illness when Jeanne was only 10. Unable to live alone, Jeanne moves into a convent. She is an adventurous, boisterous girl, creating and telling the other girls grand, romantic stories. She also shows an aptitude for healing and herbal medicine. At the age of 18, Jeanne is offered to become a King's Daughter and travel to New France. Jeanne immediately agrees to this and sets out to New France with her friend Marie. Together they embark on their 41-day trip across the Atlantic ocean. Along the way, Marie falls in love with a sailor named Jean.The two girls arrive in New France in August, 1672 and are welcomed by the Lieutenant, their fiancées and a group of Hurons. Marie, having fallen in love along the way, becomes saddened at the thought of marrying someone else. Jeanne realizes that in order for Marie to be happy, someone else must marry the man that was chosen for her. Jeanne then takes the decision to get married in Marie's place. When Jeanne meets her new husband, she is sorely disappointed. Simon de Rouville is rude, callous, and unfriendly. However, the ever-determined Jeanne decides to stay and make the best of her situation.
As her new life in the wilderness begins, Jeanne faces many hardships. And, in spite of constantly being told that she reminds everyone of Simon's first wife, Aimee, Jeanne stays to make a better life for her husband and his two children, Nicholas and Isabelle. Eventually, Jeanne and Simon fall in love with each other, and Jeanne grows strong as a result of her new life. She also cultivates her talents as a healer and becomes well known in the area.
The book ends with an attack from the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
aboriginals, a constant threat in New France. The de Rouville family survives, after many other conflicts.