John Johnston tp speak in Wolfville Oct. 9

John Johnston will be giving a public lecture in Wolfville at Acadia University on Oct. 9th, at 7:00 PM, in the Beveridge Arts Centre, BAC Room 236.

TOPIC OF THE LECTURE: "Louisbourg: The Last Decade"This will be an illustrated hour-long talk on the dramatic and far-reachingevents at Louisbourg during its final decade, focussing on the siege of1758. The emphasis will be on how the collision of two European empires inAtlantic Canada played out during the Seven Years War and what long-lasting impacts that struggle was to have.

Recent review of Endgame 1758

Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, Volume 11 (2008), pp. 202-204. In a book review by Julian Gwyn, now retired but formerly a professor of history at the University of Ottawa:

P. 203: "The author, already well-established as a published expert on Louisbourgunder French rule, has produced the best account yet of the fortress's last decade 1749-58."
[...]
"Johnston's detailed study of events in Louisbourg from the time of its recovery by a French garrison in the summer of 1749 to the departure of French prisoners of war nine years later is to be greatly welcomed. This aspect of Louisbourg's history is unlikely to be improved until newdocuments are located."

John Johnston's forthcoming lectures

Award-winning Endgame 1758 author John Johnston will be making presentations on his book and, more broadly, on Louisbourg, as commemorations of the final seige of 1758 continue:

Sept. 16, 7:30 pm, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax.
Sept. 27, 9:30 am, Louisbourg Symposium 2008, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site,
Sept. 28, 12 noon, The Word on the Street, Cunard Event Center, Halifax.
Oct. 9, time tba (evening), AcadiaUniversity, Wolfville

Public presentation on Louisbourg at McConnell, July 24

July 22-27 is a big week for Fortress Louisbourg National Historic site, including an encampment weekend (25-26).

On Thursday evening, John johnston will be giving a public talk at the McConnell Memorial Library (Falmouth Street, Sydney) at 7 p.m.

Come out and hear one of the world's leading authorities on Louisbourg. It's free!

Endgame on BT

Be sure to be watching CTV's Breakfast Television on Wednesday, June 18 (approx. 7:40 a.m.), when John Johnston will be interviewed about his book Endgame and the 250th anniversary of the final seige.

Louisbourg anniversary subject of article in "The Trident"

John Johnston's expertise on the subject of Louisbourg and this the 250th anniversary of the final siege of the Fortress are the subject of an article in the The Trident (Vol. 42, No. 10), the magazine of Canada's armed forces. See:

http://www.tridentnews.ca/default.asp?ID=3766

For more information on the 250th anniversary celebrations in Louisbourg, NS, goto: http://www.louisbourg2008.com/

National recognition for Endgame 1758

Sydney, NS, June 4, 2008 – Historian A.J.B. (John) Johnston was awarded the Canadian Historical Association's Clio Award for regional history during its annual congress last week.

His latest book, Endgame 1758: The Promise, the Glory and the Despair of Louisbourg's Last Decade (Cape Breton University and University of Nebraska Press) is cited by the CHA as a meritorious publication.

Louisbourg figured prominently in the military, economic and strategic thinking of France and England and peaked during Louisbourg’s last decade, one of the greatest dramas in the history of the continent. The final siege on the French capital, in 1758, brought to a close a century-and-a-half of Anglo-French struggle for dominance.

The 250th anniversary of the final siege will be commemorated through many activities throughout the summer and fall, including community events, a symposium and an encampment weekend (July 25-27), involving more than one thousand history re-enactors from across Canada and the U.S.

Johnston, a long-time historian at Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site and now working from the Atlantic region offices of Parks Canada in Halifax, is a recognized authority on Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Acadia and Nova Scotia and has published many books and articles on those subjects.

Founded in 1922, the Canadian Historical Association/Société Historique du Canada is a bilingual scholarly organization dedicated to research in all fields of history. As the leading scholarly organization of historians in Canada, the Canadian Historical Association assumes an advocacy role regarding issues of concern to its members and other practitioners interested in advancing the discipline of history in Canada.

Cover story

An article and interview by John Johnston is the cover story of The Beaver: Canada's History Magazine (June/July 2008). http://www.historysociety.ca/bea.asp

Endgame subject of R-C interview

John Johnston, author of Endgame 1758 was interviewed live on Radio Canada, on May 22.

We welcome comments/reviews

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Johnston in Charlottetown April 26

John Johnston spoke with an enthuiastic audience of more than 60 people on a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Charlottetown waterfront on Sunday afternoon, April 26.

The fall of Louisbourg and the years leading up to that fall were action-packed years in the Maritime - which included the mass deportation of Acadians, so there's lots of interest in John's excellent account of the final decade.

"Endgame" subject of Old Sydney Society Talk

Author John Johnston spoke to a full house at the monthly meeting of the Old Sydney Society, April 24 in Sydney. John's talk encapsulated the strategic importance of 18th-century Louisbourg to French and English colonial powers of the day, with particular emphasis on the size and scope of the final (1758) siege and the imapct of the end of Louisbourg on the rest of the world.

The British assault, which laid siege to the fortress for six weeks, was the largest military exercise ever on North America.

"Endgame 1758" nominated for literary award

Congratulations John Johnston. Endgame 1758: The Promise the Glory and the Despair of Lousibourg's Last Decade is shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction, to be awarded May 12 in Dartmouth. The winning book includes a $1,500 cheque.

Congratulations John!

"Endgame" successful launch at AGNS

January 20, Endgame 1758 was launched at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Author John Johnston gave a talk to a packed house on a very stormy Sudnay, followed by a reception and launch in the AGNS foyer.