The Neutral French: The Exiles of Nova Scotia

by Catharine Read Williams

Indeed, the author, Mrs. Williams, longed for such an event and even hoped that someone might "drag forth from the lumber of ages some important facts connected with them, as yet unsung, and present them in a fairer form." Certainly, Longfellow succeeded; yet Mrs. Williams did not fail. She, too, presents an emotional examination of the plight of the Acadians and their exile from Nova Scotia. Drawing from various primary sources, including the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Mrs. Williams deftly weaves facts with fiction to create a compelling tale of the tumultuous life of Pauline St. Pierre . . . a tale made all the more striking for its truthfulness. Also available are the original poem Evangeline, the renowned Pamphile Le May French translation Evangeline, and the 1929 Finis Fox adaptation, Evangeline: A Novel . All are published by Pelican.

416 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 1999

About the author

Catharine Read Williams (1787-1872) was a Rhode Island writer and poet and a leading figure in the Dorr Rebellion in support of universal suffrage. In 2002, she was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.