Tapestry of war: A private view of Canadians in the Great War

by Sandra Gwyn

. . . (an) engaging chronicle of Canada & Canadians in the First World War . . . a social history with the sweep of a novel. That the story is factual — an account of a nation forged in blood & fire — adds to its power & allure. . . . (a) marvelous cast of characters . . . . takes history out of its neat categories & puts us into contact with what it must have felt like to be there . . . Partial contents: up at Blue Sea Lake; an Irish Cinderella; the view from Basil Mansions; the Belgian canal boat fund; an odour of genius; the destruction of General Alderson; the education of Grace MacPherson; Ave Atque Vale. Photos. Sources. Index.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, War

552 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Gwyn was one of Canada's great popular historians who in this book took the private diaries and notebooks of ordinary and not so ordinary Canadians, mixed with snapshot histories and newspaper accounts to paint a portrait of a country coming to terms with a world wide event that was shaping it into a nation.

[Shirleyleishmanlives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last line of this will slay you.

[Dan Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at WWI through the eyes of several Canadians, famous and otherwise.

[Gabriele Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Gwyn provides a readable, well-researched account of Canadians during WW1 by focussing on a few interesting personalities. From Ottawa socialites to front-line soldiers to Lord Beaverbrook, we see society in transition.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realized that I had read this book before loaning it to my Mom. It was quite a remarkable story of WWI and Canadians who played a role in it. The potential for a different prime minister is revealed. We know so little about individual Canadian war contributions, I enjoyed it.