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Halifax Warden of the North
Thomas Raddall is one of Canada's most popular novelists, and a three-time winner of the Governor General Award for Fiction. Born in Nova Scotia, Thomas Raddall authored sixteen books, including The Nymph and the Lamp, Roger Sudden, and Warden of the North.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionCanada
343 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1948
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114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 28, 2020
I read this book in junior high and can still remember the pain. Halifax historian and my Principal, Lou Collins was a major fan. Said it was the greatest book ever written.
It was so boring and long, I’m sure I didn’t finish it and likely copied parts of someone else’s work to complete the task. As an adult who has now shared more than 50 years with this city I was fascinated. The tough progression of a port city through boom and bust of wars then post wars was tough to comprehend with today’s lens. A few great stories include voodoo in North Preston, riots of armed forces personnel vs local authorities and a waiter at the Halifax Club who decided to take his own life in full view of a room full of Halifax’s finest.
It takes a while but it’s worth it.
It was so boring and long, I’m sure I didn’t finish it and likely copied parts of someone else’s work to complete the task. As an adult who has now shared more than 50 years with this city I was fascinated. The tough progression of a port city through boom and bust of wars then post wars was tough to comprehend with today’s lens. A few great stories include voodoo in North Preston, riots of armed forces personnel vs local authorities and a waiter at the Halifax Club who decided to take his own life in full view of a room full of Halifax’s finest.
It takes a while but it’s worth it.
December 4, 2017
Stephen Kimber's sections at the end, and the wealth of information on the whole, saved it. What bothers me is how influential the book is despite its dated, to put it politely, racist to be blunt, perspective. It starts with the line "The first inhabitants were a savage folk" and that point of view doesn't progress until Kimber takes over at Chapter 43, page 328.
If the book can be read with that grain (truckload) of salt, it's a treasure of information. Please don't read it without first reading We Were Not the Savages, at least. But the book maintains its influence and reputation as a classic, meaning that context will be missed by many readers - and I suspect many don't get as far as the last few chapters.
We need a People's History of Halifax. Who will be our Howard Zinn?
If the book can be read with that grain (truckload) of salt, it's a treasure of information. Please don't read it without first reading We Were Not the Savages, at least. But the book maintains its influence and reputation as a classic, meaning that context will be missed by many readers - and I suspect many don't get as far as the last few chapters.
We need a People's History of Halifax. Who will be our Howard Zinn?
Want to read
March 14, 2012My copy is a 1965 Library Hardback edition of 340 pages.
January 20, 2025
Halifax Warden of the North
Thomas H. Raddall
I’m reading an e-book version Goodreads doesn’t know exists offered by the internet archive. Found it 6 months back and have just now gotten around to reading.
Interesting learning the background to place names. George Dunk was Earl of Halifax.
The treaty that gave Louisbourg back to the French gave the English assurance that the French Court would no longer harbour Bonnie Prince Charlie and a port in India. So much for their concern about North America. The connection with Charles Stuart was new to me. The Battle field at Culloden was a recent memory.
The founding of Halifax was the direct result of the need to counteract the threat posed by the French. The New Englanders who had captured Lousibourg were incensed. The first settlers of Halifax were the rabble of London whose chief interest was the promise of a year’s provisions, not the prospect of labour clearing the townsite and building the town.
There is a distinct lack of arable land in the Halifax area for the growing of food and always has been. Any local springs have long since been destroyed.
The military, army and navy, have long been the lifeblood and bane of life for the residents of Halifax. Interference from across the pond always a factor and Britain’s wars with France a continuing threat. When Britain zeroed in on Naval power press gangs became a constant irritant. Any able bodied male was at risk. Last I knew for a fee the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Halifax would impress you into the Navy. Though you would not today regain consciousness at sea.
Since the jails were the first to be emptied your fellow crew members were less than savoury.
It feels ironic to be reading about the US seeking to make Canada the 51st state at a time when Trump is making similar noises.
My maternal Grandfather got his Fenian Money but was never called upon to offer defence.
Confederation led to the economic decline of Nova Scotia in particular as Central Canada demanded trade restrictions with New England and flooded the province with their cheaper goods.
Fishermen formerly landed their catches in Boston, dropped over t0 the isles for Rum and ran the blockade to land it home.
My great-granfather’s Boston Ansonian Clock still keeps time when I remember to wind it. My mother’s ancient relatives came home in Summer from Boston, Mass. Just as my generation return from Ontario.
Halifax has ever had a love/hate relationship with the military, the navy in particular for much of its history a British Navy. When in port navy personnel outnumbered the civilian population many times over. Fresh from months at sea sailors sought the twin boons of grog shops and bordellos. The Halifax Explosion of 1917 was even studied by the Manhattan Project. The 1945 Bedford Magazine fire had the potential to blow Halifax off the face of the earth. VE Day caused a riot Halifax 60 police officers could do nothing to quell.
Modern warfare rendered Halifax system of forts museum pieces. Streets laid out for riders on horseback were not built for the motor car and the peninsula has only two exits to the countryside beyond.
Communist inspired Seaman’s International Union destroyed the Canadian Merchant Marine and it has never recovered.
Confined to its peninsula the city has nowhere to go but up and the harbour today is barely visible from the Citadel which has never fired a shot in anger.
This review might be considered spoilers to anyone who has not studied history.
Thomas H. Raddall
I’m reading an e-book version Goodreads doesn’t know exists offered by the internet archive. Found it 6 months back and have just now gotten around to reading.
Interesting learning the background to place names. George Dunk was Earl of Halifax.
The treaty that gave Louisbourg back to the French gave the English assurance that the French Court would no longer harbour Bonnie Prince Charlie and a port in India. So much for their concern about North America. The connection with Charles Stuart was new to me. The Battle field at Culloden was a recent memory.
The founding of Halifax was the direct result of the need to counteract the threat posed by the French. The New Englanders who had captured Lousibourg were incensed. The first settlers of Halifax were the rabble of London whose chief interest was the promise of a year’s provisions, not the prospect of labour clearing the townsite and building the town.
There is a distinct lack of arable land in the Halifax area for the growing of food and always has been. Any local springs have long since been destroyed.
The military, army and navy, have long been the lifeblood and bane of life for the residents of Halifax. Interference from across the pond always a factor and Britain’s wars with France a continuing threat. When Britain zeroed in on Naval power press gangs became a constant irritant. Any able bodied male was at risk. Last I knew for a fee the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Halifax would impress you into the Navy. Though you would not today regain consciousness at sea.
Since the jails were the first to be emptied your fellow crew members were less than savoury.
It feels ironic to be reading about the US seeking to make Canada the 51st state at a time when Trump is making similar noises.
My maternal Grandfather got his Fenian Money but was never called upon to offer defence.
Confederation led to the economic decline of Nova Scotia in particular as Central Canada demanded trade restrictions with New England and flooded the province with their cheaper goods.
Fishermen formerly landed their catches in Boston, dropped over t0 the isles for Rum and ran the blockade to land it home.
My great-granfather’s Boston Ansonian Clock still keeps time when I remember to wind it. My mother’s ancient relatives came home in Summer from Boston, Mass. Just as my generation return from Ontario.
Halifax has ever had a love/hate relationship with the military, the navy in particular for much of its history a British Navy. When in port navy personnel outnumbered the civilian population many times over. Fresh from months at sea sailors sought the twin boons of grog shops and bordellos. The Halifax Explosion of 1917 was even studied by the Manhattan Project. The 1945 Bedford Magazine fire had the potential to blow Halifax off the face of the earth. VE Day caused a riot Halifax 60 police officers could do nothing to quell.
Modern warfare rendered Halifax system of forts museum pieces. Streets laid out for riders on horseback were not built for the motor car and the peninsula has only two exits to the countryside beyond.
Communist inspired Seaman’s International Union destroyed the Canadian Merchant Marine and it has never recovered.
Confined to its peninsula the city has nowhere to go but up and the harbour today is barely visible from the Citadel which has never fired a shot in anger.
This review might be considered spoilers to anyone who has not studied history.
March 22, 2024
A pretty fascinating and detailed look at Halifax, from well before it was formally founded up to 2009. I found myself telling neat anecdotes about the city to friends, which is a good sign of how many little tidbits this contains. The bulk of the book was written in the 1940s, so there are many instances of less-than-acceptable descriptions of all sorts of people, but if you can approach the book with that in mind, you too can regale your friends with stories of how they decided to put the initial city of Halifax, and which members of the royal family were liked or disliked by the citizens of the city.
January 25, 2018
Aside from the Raddall showing his old school racism at various points in the book, this is a treasure trove of well-researched historical nuggets about Halifax and the history of Nova Scotia. Highlights include recurring anecdotes about particular sites in the city, as well as his approach of essentially describing the history of every major street and public space in the city. A worthy read if you can stomach and overlook its somewhat dated narrative style and frequent use of terms like "savages" in reference to First Nations peoples.
Read
August 17, 2020Bought during our family trip to Nova Scotia; Benedict Arnold's son designed the fort at Halifax!!
January 16, 2025
An interesting read that covers the history of Halifax with fun glimpses into Western and North American history. Makes me want to read more books a like covering other world cities.
September 20, 2025
Informative and playful. But time and time again I would hesitate to pick it up. That says far more about me and my tolerance for history than it does about Raddall's writing.
July 21, 2013
This is an historical portrait of Halifax.
The book begins with city’s first inhabitants, the Mi’Kmaq and follows Halifax through time from the earliest settlers, to Prohibition and the war time boom in the late twentieth century. It focuses on the city’s historic military role and the effects of its strategic position, chronicling colourful characters, heroes and scoundrels and the adventure and intrigue of their exploits.
For me, a little disappointing without an ongoing story line like his other books.
Winner of the Governor General's award.
The book begins with city’s first inhabitants, the Mi’Kmaq and follows Halifax through time from the earliest settlers, to Prohibition and the war time boom in the late twentieth century. It focuses on the city’s historic military role and the effects of its strategic position, chronicling colourful characters, heroes and scoundrels and the adventure and intrigue of their exploits.
For me, a little disappointing without an ongoing story line like his other books.
Winner of the Governor General's award.
December 1, 2014
I started this book...and then I lost it. And THEN I rebought it, which might explain why it took so long to think.
An extremely well-written and entertaining history of Halifax. When I moved here I wanted to learn more about the city and this book taught me a lot. It is absolutely jam-packed with information but it's conveyed in a really readable way.
Highly recommended to Canadian history buffs, particularly those on the east coast (and even more to those in Halifax).
An extremely well-written and entertaining history of Halifax. When I moved here I wanted to learn more about the city and this book taught me a lot. It is absolutely jam-packed with information but it's conveyed in a really readable way.
Highly recommended to Canadian history buffs, particularly those on the east coast (and even more to those in Halifax).
March 30, 2016
This was a re-read for me. I read it over 10 years ago in high school. Overall, enjoyable. The span and scope of detail is impressive. Two things bugged me: the history of Africville is skirted over, to the book's serious detriment I think. Also, the updated chapters seemed to be very prejudiced against the Chronicle-Herald, which I found a bit odd.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews