"A Few Acres of Snow": The Saga of the French and Indian Wars - which spans seven tumultuous decades of pre-Revolutionary American history - comprises much more than its subtitle suggests.

By the time readers reach the climactic seven-year struggle of the French and Indian War, military historian Robert Leckie has already illuminated in unrivaled detail the brutal combat, passionate conviction, and rugged determination behind the preceding three great colonial wars between England and France: the War of the Grand Alliance (King William's War), the War of the Spanish Succession (Queen Anne's War), and the War of the Austrian Succession (King George's War).

Packed with profiles of all the major players - including George Washington, Samuel de Champlain, William Pitt, Edward Braddock, Count Frontenac, James Wolfe, Thomas Gage, and the nobly vanquished Marquis Montcalm - "A Few Acres of Snow" culminates in the savage, decisive confrontation at Quebec's Plains of Abraham. Here the book affords readers an intimate look at the poignancy and paradox of Wolfe's triumphant death.

Also, Leckie compellingly suggests for the first time that Montcalm died knowing full well that he had been betrayed. In the long view, Leckie's sweeping account shows us exactly why we speak English today instead of French - and reminds us how easily things might have gone the other way.