Bob Bender at S&S beat out at least five other houses in an auction for U.S. rights to a new book by David Hackett Fischer, in a deal rumored to be worth $800,000. Scott Moyers at the Wylie Agency represented Fischer in negotiations.

The book, Champlain’s Dream, tells the story of Samuel de Champlain’s exploration and settlement of Quebec (New France). Champlain, whose admiration for Native Americans and desire to leave peacefully among them (this was “Champlain’s Dream”) diverged from the attitudes of other explorers, was also religiously tolerant at a time when Huguenot Protestants were often persecuted in his native France.

S&S will publish the book this October to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Quebec’s founding, and Knopf Canada will publish simultaneously.

Fischer is the author of a number of books, and won the Pulitzer for 2004’s Washington’s Crossing. He is University Professor and Warren Professor of History at Brandeis.