In this penetrating study, Carl Brasseaux looks beyond long-standing mythology to provide a critical account of early Acadian culture in Louisiana and the reasons for its survival. He convincingly dispels many received notions about the routes Acadians traveled from Nova Scotia to Louisiana, their original settlement sites, and the patterns of their subsequent migrations within the state, and closely examines the relations of Louisiana's Acadians with their black, Spanish, Indian, and Creole neighbors. In adapting to subtropical Louisiana, with its turmoil of alternating French and Spanish regimes, the Acadians exhibited industry, pragmatism, individualism, and the ability to close ranks in the face of a general threat. As Brasseaux reveals, Acadians' cohesiveness and insularity preserved the core elements of their culture and helped them adjust to new physical and social demands.

Rethinking New Acadia presents cutting edge research into and new ways of thinking about the dispersal of the Acadians and their arrival in southwestern Louisiana. This book is required reading for historians, genealogists, and anyone else interested in understanding Le Grande Dérangement more deeply than ever before. Book jacket.

Acadia, Maine, and New Scotland were similarly conceived as major colonizing attempts by France, England, and Scotland, respectively. In this comparative study, Professor Reid explores the colonizing styles of the parent countries and describes the interaction of the Europeans with the native peoples and with the physical environment of the northeastern seaboard. Colonial development is traced from the earliest attempts throught the elaborate schemes of each country in the 1620s, which produced the first serious idsjunction between European concept and American reality. During the crucial, formative years between 1630 and 1650, the three emerged as marginal colonies, still unable to harmonize with their environment. The author discusses the demise of New Scotland by 1650 and the fragile conditions of Acadia and Maine, which resulted from the pressures of potent external forces. As the century went on, Acadia and Maine were open to the conflicting influences of the European governments, the powerful neighbouring colony of Massachusetts, adn the native peoples of the region. A complex and destructive series of wars was the culmination. Although nothing major differences, Reid emphasizes the similarities among the colonies, each of which failed to fulfil the expectations of its parent country: he reflects on this failure as an important exception to the seemingly ineluctable progress of European colonization in America.

Plunge into the heart of an epic journey with 'The Story of The Acadians', an engrossing narrative nestled within the pages of 'Beyond Blue Earth to the French Prairie Volume I.' This mesmerizing tale unfurls a saga spanning four generations, tracing the intricate intertwining of the Bourgeois and Sire lineages, eventually blossoming into the Cyr family of Madawaska. At the heart of this riveting story is Jacques Bourgeois, the resolute founder of Beaubassin, the second Acadian settlement in New France. Bourgeois' vision and steadfastness laid the groundwork for a resilient community, fostering a legacy that would echo through the centuries. The narrative tapestry deepens with the story of Bourgeois' daughter, Marie, and her marriage to Pierre Sire, an expert gunsmith hailing from Touraine, France. Their union signals the merging of two influential Acadian families, shaping a formidable lineage that would indelibly etch its mark on Acadian history. The tale takes an intense turn with the gripping adventures of their grandson, Jean Baptiste Cyr dit Croc. An undaunted survivor of the Great Acadian Expulsion and the dramatic Seizing of the Pembroke, Cyr's resilience against overwhelming odds encapsulates the indomitable spirit of the Acadian people. Against a backdrop of strife and upheaval, Cyr leads his family to Madawaska, laying the foundation for the flourishing Cyr lineage that still exists today. This poignant journey encapsulates their trials, triumphs, and the relentless determination that defines the Acadian people. 'The Story of The Acadians' is an intricate mosaic of family bonds, resilient spirit, and the relentless pursuit of home. It provides a captivating exploration of Acadian history through the lens of two interconnected families, delivering an insightful journey into a historical period that shaped the destinies of countless lives. Immerse yourself in this compelling tale, and allow yourself to be swept away into the heart of Acadian history, tracing the footsteps of the resilient Bourgeois, Sire, and Cyr families. Experience a slice of history that has been beautifully captured and preserved, offering a window into the lives and experiences of those who shaped the vibrant tapestry of Acadian heritage.

'The Rivals of Acadia' is an adventure-drama novel penned by H. V. Cheney. The story begins on a bright summer day in 1643, where a light pleasure-boat is sailing across the harbor of Boston with a group of people on board. A group of friends are watching them depart but one person, named Arthur Stanhope, is not paying attention to the scene. Suddenly a French ship appears and the people on the shore become alarmed. The French ship is armed and the people on the pleasure-boat, mostly women and children, are terrified. The pleasure-boat turns and tries to flee but the French ship pursues them.