Death or Victory—The Battle of Quebec and the Birth of Empire

Perched on top of a tall promontory, surrounded on three sides by the treacherous St. Lawrence River, Quebec—in 1759 France's capital city in Canada—forms an almost impregnable natural fortress. That year, with the Seven Years War raging around the globe, a force of 49 ships and nearly 9000 men commanded by the irascible General James Wolfe navigated the river, scaled the cliffs, and laid siege to the town in an audacious attempt to expel the French from North America forever.

In this magisterial book, Dan Snow tells the story of the famous campaign that was to have far-reaching consequences for Britain's rise to global hegemony, and for the world at large. Using original research and telling the story from all perspectives, Snow brilliantly sets the battle within its global context to create a gripping tale of a brutal war where terrain, weather, and native Indian tribes were as fearsome as any enemy. 1759 was, without question, a year in which the decisions of men changed the world forever.

DAN SNOW has researched, written and presented documentaries on British and world history for the BBC, including the BAFTA-award-winningBattlefield Britain. He has contributed to BBC History Magazine, The Times, The Guardian, Express, andSunday Times. He was born in Canada and lives in London, England.