The Lady of Fort St. John

"The Lady of Fort St. John" by Mary Hartwell Catherwood is a story set in Acadia during a time of conflict between the French and English. The story centers around Marie de la Tour, a strong woman who must protect Fort St. John while her husband is away fighting. The book starts with a dark, misty setting that hints at trouble to come. We learn about Charles de la Tour, a leader, and his wife Marie, who is both caring and brave. She is left in charge of the fort and faces danger from a rival named D'Aulnay de Charnisay, who wants to take over. When a strange woman arrives with a baby, the situation becomes more complicated, raising questions of trust, disloyalty, and what it means to be a mother in a war-torn land.