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Backyard History: Rebellious Women in The Maritimes
Backyard History spins compelling yarns with the human touch Maritimers are known for, taking readers on an entertaining and exhilarating ride through the rich, undiscovered past of a region long renowned for its storytelling.
Perfect for history lovers and casual readers alike, Rebellious Women in the Maritimes uncovers the untold stories of seventeen courageous women who dared to stand up, speak out, and break free from the constraints of their times, shaping the history of the Maritimes.
“An essential purchase for anyone with even a passing interest in Atlantic Canada and its bizarre, checkered, fascinating, and often surprisingly hilarious history.”
James Mullinger, Maritime [EDIT] Magazine
“Andrew MacLean tells the absorbing stories that you wish you had learned in history class. A tour through his Maritimes is like the museum you always hoped to find.”
Mackenzie Common, author of The Lives of Desperate Girls
Perfect for history lovers and casual readers alike, Rebellious Women in the Maritimes uncovers the untold stories of seventeen courageous women who dared to stand up, speak out, and break free from the constraints of their times, shaping the history of the Maritimes.
“An essential purchase for anyone with even a passing interest in Atlantic Canada and its bizarre, checkered, fascinating, and often surprisingly hilarious history.”
James Mullinger, Maritime [EDIT] Magazine
“Andrew MacLean tells the absorbing stories that you wish you had learned in history class. A tour through his Maritimes is like the museum you always hoped to find.”
Mackenzie Common, author of The Lives of Desperate Girls
- GenresNonfictionHistory
282 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2024
8 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Andrew MacLean
4 books6 followersAndrew MacLean is the creator of Backyard History, a popular long form Atlantic Canadian history column appearing in 19 newspapers, the host of the Backyard History Podcast, and the author of two books, also called (you guessed it) Backyard History!
Backyard History puts the story into history, digging deep into forgotten and obscure moments in Maritimes history and fashioning them into fascinating tales.
Mixing academic research with the human touch Maritimers are known for, MacLean’s Backyard History has been featured by media outlets across Canada.
Support this author and order a book at backyardhistory.ca/book
Backyard History puts the story into history, digging deep into forgotten and obscure moments in Maritimes history and fashioning them into fascinating tales.
Mixing academic research with the human touch Maritimers are known for, MacLean’s Backyard History has been featured by media outlets across Canada.
Support this author and order a book at backyardhistory.ca/book
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 22, 2025
Great book. Learned a lot. But as it is self published the text needs a good copy editor.
December 28, 2025
📚 BOOK REVIEW
I received Backyard History: Rebellious Women in the Maritimes by Andrew Maclean as a Christmas gift from a dear friend—who is, in her own right, a rebellious woman. I picked it up intending to skim it before adding it to my January TBR pile, and instead found myself immediately pulled into the lives of the 17 women featured in this book.
Some of these women were familiar to me, while many were not, and every single story left me impressed and inspired by their courage, resilience, and determination to stand up in the face of sexism and racism. These are women who challenged the norms of their time and helped shape the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the Maritimes.
The story of Georgina Whetsel stood out powerfully. A woman of colour, she became a highly successful business owner in Saint John after taking over her husband’s business following his death. Her story challenges long-held assumptions and highlights how deeply women, especially women of colour, have influenced our province’s history, often without recognition.
It’s impossible to choose a favourite among the 17 rebellious women in this book. Each one brings something bold, complex, and deeply human to the page. That said, learning about Beryl Markham led me to immediately add West with the Night to my reading wishlist. Her solo flight from England to North America is extraordinary, and I now want to experience her story in her own words.
The story of Juliana Horatia Ewing also touched me deeply. During her time in Fredericton, she formed a close friendship with Peter Polchies, a canoe maker and moccasin maker she initially hired for his craft. Over time, Juliana, her husband, and Peter developed a genuine and heartwarming friendship, one that saw Juliana standing up for the Indigenous community during a soiree with government officials. She also recounts meeting Gabe Acquin, whose life story is remarkable in its own right. These moments reflect meaningful cross-cultural relationships that were rare for their time and speak to mutual respect, curiosity, and shared humanity.
This book is a powerful reminder of how many phenomenal women have shaped the Maritimes, and history itself. I truly believe this is a must-read for everyone. And if you know me at all, you know I love research. This book has left me wanting to dig deeper, learn more, and continue uncovering the stories of these remarkable women. I will absolutely be seeking out more of their histories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received Backyard History: Rebellious Women in the Maritimes by Andrew Maclean as a Christmas gift from a dear friend—who is, in her own right, a rebellious woman. I picked it up intending to skim it before adding it to my January TBR pile, and instead found myself immediately pulled into the lives of the 17 women featured in this book.
Some of these women were familiar to me, while many were not, and every single story left me impressed and inspired by their courage, resilience, and determination to stand up in the face of sexism and racism. These are women who challenged the norms of their time and helped shape the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the Maritimes.
The story of Georgina Whetsel stood out powerfully. A woman of colour, she became a highly successful business owner in Saint John after taking over her husband’s business following his death. Her story challenges long-held assumptions and highlights how deeply women, especially women of colour, have influenced our province’s history, often without recognition.
It’s impossible to choose a favourite among the 17 rebellious women in this book. Each one brings something bold, complex, and deeply human to the page. That said, learning about Beryl Markham led me to immediately add West with the Night to my reading wishlist. Her solo flight from England to North America is extraordinary, and I now want to experience her story in her own words.
The story of Juliana Horatia Ewing also touched me deeply. During her time in Fredericton, she formed a close friendship with Peter Polchies, a canoe maker and moccasin maker she initially hired for his craft. Over time, Juliana, her husband, and Peter developed a genuine and heartwarming friendship, one that saw Juliana standing up for the Indigenous community during a soiree with government officials. She also recounts meeting Gabe Acquin, whose life story is remarkable in its own right. These moments reflect meaningful cross-cultural relationships that were rare for their time and speak to mutual respect, curiosity, and shared humanity.
This book is a powerful reminder of how many phenomenal women have shaped the Maritimes, and history itself. I truly believe this is a must-read for everyone. And if you know me at all, you know I love research. This book has left me wanting to dig deeper, learn more, and continue uncovering the stories of these remarkable women. I will absolutely be seeking out more of their histories.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 6, 2025
sooo cool. wish there was deeper analysis of some of the mystery-ish stories, otherwise love
June 2, 2025
Very much enjoyed. It's fun to recognize the places and names. The stories are fun and interesting.
January 23, 2026
Lots of interesting stories of brave, Maritime women who made history in several areas of life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews