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As Near to Heaven by Sea: A History of Newfoundland and Labrador
For three centuries after Europeans rediscovered it, Newfoundland was thought of as little more than "a great English Ship moored near the Banks during the Fishing Season."Labrador, dismissed as the "land God gave to Cain,"commanded no more respect.But for the people who made its coastline their home, including the Aboriginal peoples who first settled there 9000 years earlier, Newfoundland and Labrador was of considerably greater significance. In these people lie a fascinating Leif Eriksson, James Cook, Black Bart, Benedict Arnold, Brigitte Bardot, Mary Walsh, Joey Smallwood, Amelia Earhart, Shanawdithit, D'Iberville, Audubon and Marconi are but a dozen of the better known.The history of Newfoundland and Labrador is no genteel excursion. Scandal coexisted with extraordinary feats of courage; disaster with daring acts of the imagination. The ritual burial of a Maritime Archaic child several millennia ago, the Viking landings, the exploits of Basque whalers, centuries of military and religious strife, confederation with Canada and the collapse of the fisheries — all are brought to life by Kevin Major in exciting, vivid prose.As Near to Heaven by Sea was nominated for the 2001 Pearson Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize.
492 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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246 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Major
30 books39 followersKevin Major is the author of 20 books, for both young people and adults. The first, Hold Fast, won several awards in Canada and was placed on the Hans Christian Andersen Honour List. It was released in 2014 as a feature film. His second book, Far From Shore, was the winner of the first Canadian Young Adult Book Award. Others which followed include Blood Red Ochre and Eating Between the Lines, winner of the CACL Book-of-the-Year Award.
In 1992 Kevin was given the Vicky Metcalf Award, for an outstanding body of work of significance to young people. The languages into which his work has been translated include French, Danish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.
An adult novel, No Man’s Land, about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, was published in 1995 to much acclaim. Kevin’s adaption of the story was brought to the stage by Rising Tide Theatre and has played for more than a dozen years.
His more recent books include the Christmas classic The House of Wooden Santas, and a history of Newfoundland and Labrador: As Near To Heaven By Sea (a Canadian best-seller and finalist for the Pearson Non-Fiction Prize). Ann and Seamus, a verse novel released in 2003 was shortlisted for a total of ten awards. It has since been turned into an opera. The adult novel New Under the Sun was published in 2010, book one of a trilogy of historical fiction. The second, Found Far and Wide, was released in 2016, and the third, Land Beyond the Sea, in 2019.
In 2018 Kevin started a projected serious of crime novels with One for the Rock. He anticipates the second will arrive in bookstores in the fall of 2020.
Kevin has been named Memorial University’s Alumnus-of-the-Year, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist-of-the-Year .
John Moss, writing in “A Reader’s Guide to the Canadian Novel,” has said, “Kevin Major is among the best Canadian writers of his generation. He has established himself as a figure of singular importance in our literature.”
He lives in St. John’s, NL with his wife Anne. They have two grown sons.
In 1992 Kevin was given the Vicky Metcalf Award, for an outstanding body of work of significance to young people. The languages into which his work has been translated include French, Danish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.
An adult novel, No Man’s Land, about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, was published in 1995 to much acclaim. Kevin’s adaption of the story was brought to the stage by Rising Tide Theatre and has played for more than a dozen years.
His more recent books include the Christmas classic The House of Wooden Santas, and a history of Newfoundland and Labrador: As Near To Heaven By Sea (a Canadian best-seller and finalist for the Pearson Non-Fiction Prize). Ann and Seamus, a verse novel released in 2003 was shortlisted for a total of ten awards. It has since been turned into an opera. The adult novel New Under the Sun was published in 2010, book one of a trilogy of historical fiction. The second, Found Far and Wide, was released in 2016, and the third, Land Beyond the Sea, in 2019.
In 2018 Kevin started a projected serious of crime novels with One for the Rock. He anticipates the second will arrive in bookstores in the fall of 2020.
Kevin has been named Memorial University’s Alumnus-of-the-Year, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist-of-the-Year .
John Moss, writing in “A Reader’s Guide to the Canadian Novel,” has said, “Kevin Major is among the best Canadian writers of his generation. He has established himself as a figure of singular importance in our literature.”
He lives in St. John’s, NL with his wife Anne. They have two grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 2, 2012
With As Near To Heaven By Sea Kevin Major provides a serviceable sketch of The Rock starting with the birth pains of its geological genesis all the way up to Danny Williams' first election.
In doing so, the best that can be said of Major's book is that it is a solid introduction to Newfoundland's history. Unfortunately, however, the book occasionally loses focus and at times borders on tedium. Nonetheless, this is a good starting point into the history of Britain's first colony.
As Major himself writes in the "Acknowledgments" section, he "under took the project not because of any great grounding in [Newfoundland's] past but because [he] knew there were a lot of people [...] seeking a general synthesis of what is known." Accordingly, As Near To Heaven By Sea is a consolidation of various primary and secondary sources. Luckily for the reader, Major has provided an exhaustive bibliography should one want to further research anything in particular.
Though out the book, Major maintains a measured voice that is passionate but disinterested. This is no small feat considering the innumerable times Newfoundland and its inhabitants have been at the short end of the political stick. Since John Cabot landed in 1497, Newfoundland has been a boon to some few elite politicians and merchants, but a bust for Natives and unlucky settlers.
Major outlines the way Newfoundland's natural resources, and the settlers who yielded it, contributed to the British empire for centuries until being unceremoniously passed over to Canada. He examines the way the larger population were victimized by greedy merchants and opportunistic politicians. And, finally, by virtue of social welfare and education, how Newfoundland may at last live up to its potential. In the words of former premier Brian Peckford, "Some day the sun will shine, and 'have not' will be no more."
My qualm with the book is that Major's expertise is uneven. There are epochs that Major is clearly more comfortable with than others. In a word, Major is much better with events from 18th C. onward (WWII especially) than those previous. There are some good moments here and there during the telling of Newfoundland's earlier history, but for the most part it feels like one damn thing after another.
Of course, this is an inherent challenge with any historical work that is focused on a general survey as opposed to a specific analysis or thesis. As such, Major's book is good, but not great.
In doing so, the best that can be said of Major's book is that it is a solid introduction to Newfoundland's history. Unfortunately, however, the book occasionally loses focus and at times borders on tedium. Nonetheless, this is a good starting point into the history of Britain's first colony.
As Major himself writes in the "Acknowledgments" section, he "under took the project not because of any great grounding in [Newfoundland's] past but because [he] knew there were a lot of people [...] seeking a general synthesis of what is known." Accordingly, As Near To Heaven By Sea is a consolidation of various primary and secondary sources. Luckily for the reader, Major has provided an exhaustive bibliography should one want to further research anything in particular.
Though out the book, Major maintains a measured voice that is passionate but disinterested. This is no small feat considering the innumerable times Newfoundland and its inhabitants have been at the short end of the political stick. Since John Cabot landed in 1497, Newfoundland has been a boon to some few elite politicians and merchants, but a bust for Natives and unlucky settlers.
Major outlines the way Newfoundland's natural resources, and the settlers who yielded it, contributed to the British empire for centuries until being unceremoniously passed over to Canada. He examines the way the larger population were victimized by greedy merchants and opportunistic politicians. And, finally, by virtue of social welfare and education, how Newfoundland may at last live up to its potential. In the words of former premier Brian Peckford, "Some day the sun will shine, and 'have not' will be no more."
My qualm with the book is that Major's expertise is uneven. There are epochs that Major is clearly more comfortable with than others. In a word, Major is much better with events from 18th C. onward (WWII especially) than those previous. There are some good moments here and there during the telling of Newfoundland's earlier history, but for the most part it feels like one damn thing after another.
Of course, this is an inherent challenge with any historical work that is focused on a general survey as opposed to a specific analysis or thesis. As such, Major's book is good, but not great.
August 3, 2017
Thought I had lost it but it was just stashed away. Such an interesting read if you're a sucker for history, archaeology, migration, anthropology or if you have a connection to newfoundland/the maritimes. Luckily I've got a dash of everything listed so this book was perfect for me.
April 26, 2019
This is a must read for every tourist intending to visit Newfoundland. Wrong! This is a must read for every Canadian. It's a well written history of this beautiful province and those poor Islanders who have been unfairly dealt with since the beginning of the fishing industry. Newfoundlanders risked their lives, worked for extremely low wages, sometimes if any, and have totally been abused by the representatives of the British Crown. Then, when they finally are about to stand tall, Quebec basically robs them of their rights in Labrador. A tough story about truly good and decent people. As a Canadian, I'm so happy they opted to join Canada. They make Canada a better country.
September 30, 2023
I read Kevin Major’s history of Newfoundland and Labrador in preparation for a vacation trip to the province. The book is highly informative, whether one wishes to read it from cover to cover, as I did, or dive in subject by subject or place by place. Newfoundland and Labrador has such an interesting history going back to in time to the indigenous inhabitants of the island and big land through the many European cultures that influenced the place.
January 1, 2021
A reread from when it came out in about 2001. Wow, I read it in a whole new light this time given the recent events of NL.
September 19, 2023
Fabulous book. Impeccably researched yet written in a way we can all relate to, understand, appreciate and enjoy. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2025
super interesting. Great information and well written.
January 7, 2017
I read this book before spending 7 weeks touring Newfoundland with my wife in our Canadian Roadtrek Campervan. It was a vacation but also a research trip for my book. As Near To Heaven By Sea was not only a superb primer to plan our trip it proved to be, at least for me, the most comprehensive and readable account of Newfoundland's storied history.
Another must read
Graham Gibbs author of Five Ages of Canada: A History From Our First Peoples to Confederation
Another must read
Graham Gibbs author of Five Ages of Canada: A History From Our First Peoples to Confederation
November 18, 2012
This book spans from pre-contact and norse voyages to vinland all the way to the election of Danny Williams, and so is unapologetic in its selectivity. The authour, however, provides a personal perspective from a resident of the outports that is exactly what a 'come from away' living in St.John's is looking for in a popular history of my new home. Moving to St.John's you become immediately aware of the wealth of culture and hard to access stories that surround the place in the inaccessible outports of the province/republic. This book I would recommend to the new-Newfoundlander who, if only for a short time, gets access to an insiders account of the forces that shaped this 'poor bald rock.'
May 21, 2010
I had no idea Newfoundland had such an in depth history. It made me a a newfie-phile for a good amount of time.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews