WITH WOLFE TO QUEBEC: THE PATH TO GLORY.

London: Collins, 1972. 224 pp, large 8vo (9 1/4" H). Map endpapers, b&w and colour reproductions, maps. "To storm and take Quebec (William Pitt) chose thirty-two year old James Wolfe, the soldier so much admired by Nelson. Only a few month 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 men; his expedition included one of the great navigators of history, James Cooke; 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 (the author) 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'." Small area of erased pencil notation on half-title page, minor wrinkling at top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket has been price-clipped, has light wear at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, a few very small tears at top edge/spine with old tape, corner crease on front flap, very light browning at top of flaps.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good.