Jeanne, Fille Du Roy/The King's Daughter (1999) - Plot & Excerpts
This is the first book I've read by Suzanne Martel, but I certainly hope it won't be the last, and I'd like to read them in French. That would be even more authentic.During the time of Louis XIV, a young orphaned girl from a good family has lost her grandfather, the last member of her family. Jeanne Chatel is placed in an orphanage run by nuns. Soon after she gets the news that she has been selected as a King's daughter. This means that she will be sailing for the French colony of New France, Canada as wife for a farmer, trapper, or soldier hoping to make his way as a settler in a new land.During her voyage overseas, one of the other orphans and a soldier fall in love. However, the orphan is already promised to a specific settler and Jeanne offers to change places with her and marry the widower who has two children. When her suitor comes to pick her up, she introduces herself as Marie du Voyer. He arrives with two children a boy and a younger girl. Jeanne falls in love with them and as cheerfully as possible makes her way to her new husband's land.I love learning how people lived in history and this was one good example. Usually I'm much more interested in historical times or in life in foreign countries than in our own times and place. As a Canadian, I at least have the time going for me with books by this author.
Jeanne lives in the woods with her grandfather until he dies. Then she is sent to an orphanage run by nuns. Jeanne is a spirited, fiesty girl who does not fit with the nuns' ideas of what a woman is and does. She is excited when she is told she will move to Canada as that sounds more exciting than life as a nun. On board the ship, she is taught the uses of various herbs so she can be of more use in the colony as a healer. Her friend, who also came along, is slated to marry her older relative, already living in New France and who has just lost his wife and needs a mother for his children. While on board the ship, though, she falls in love with a young man. Jeanne decides to marry this girl's relative instead. She meets her new husband on her wedding day. Then she needs to learn to live with him. While the children seem eager for a new mom and the natives that live around her accept her as a friend and healer, her new husband sees her as a burden and a wimp. How she shows him who she really is and how she learns to fit in in her adopted country makes a wonderful story of hope and courage.
What do You think about Jeanne, Fille Du Roy/The King's Daughter (1999)?
I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed this book considering that it was based of historical events of girls, who where orphans, being chosen to go over seas from france to canada (at the time named new france), to start a life there, get married, have children and help populate the new lands. Definitively not a hard read for someone who's first language is french. This novel was written well and kept me interested throughout the entire story and got me imagining what would happen next. 2 out of 5 stars because I honestly didn't like the ending and though it could have been better, but over all a good book and if your native language is french and you like historical books I suggest you read it!
—Jenn
Jeanne, Fille du Roy is an assigned novel in grade 9 french. it's literally "a book about social studies 9/10" There is no point in assigning novels to students who couldn't even understand the book if they tried. No one learns anything because no one reads the book because it's too dry and too difficult. The only reason why I liked it was because I understood most of the vocabulary already.On to the actual book... The way Martel describes Jeanne and her thoughts is incredible. Jeanne is awesome
—Jayda
