Canada: An Illustrated History

by Derek Hayes

Combining his talents as a geographer, historian, and writer to superb effect, Derek Hayes, author of gorgeous, landmark historical atlases of the North Pacific Ocean and British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, has produced a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written history of Canada. Canada: An Illustrated History is one of those rare general histories that manages to present critical historical scholarship in vibrant colour. Hayes's narrative traces Canada's development from contact with the First Nations, through the clash of the French and British Empires and the rebellions, to the building of the nation through the political events of the 19th and 20th centuries. The method is traditional, but the opinions offered are critical and based on sound historical research. For example, the successful British general Geoffrey Amherst, a hero in older texts, is here "ruthless but brilliant," and his war crimes are fully exposed. Similarly, Hayes tackles controversial issues with a refreshing no-nonsense approach. The contentious saga of Louis Riel is explained plainly in the terms of hard political realities without reference to emotional rhetoric or cultural agendas. To flesh out his narrative, Hayes employs social and cultural sidebars to explore facets of Canadian history that exist outside of the political framework of the narrative: the origin of the name Canada, biographical profiles, Canadian inventions, and the like all serve to bring the story to life. The illustrations deserve special mention. The well-chosen maps, documents, photographs, paintings, and engravings make this a volume to treasure. This is a book to read on Sunday afternoon sprawled out on the living room carpet, and every Canadian family should have a copy. --William Newbigging

Genres: Canada, History, Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Canada!

[Bugra Birgili · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a tedious book for learning about the general history that shaped the Canada we know today. As a temporary resident in Canada, this book made it easy for me to delve into Canadian history without feeling overwhelmed by excessive detail. It's filled with numerous illustrations and photographs, which greatly enhance the reading experience. However, I did find myself wishing for a Canadian geographic map to help me better visualize the locations of some of the historical events, especially those that took place in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that every American should read (don't worry, there are a lot of pictures), to find out how and why our neighbor to the north has created, as the author says, "a multicultural, kinder, more tolerant America."

[Katra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's shocking how little I know about our neighbor to the north.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very thorough look at Canadian history, though I think it could have used more length to be able to go more in depth about certain topics. However, I did pick up a lot of new knowledge! I'm feeling a lot more solid in my knowledge of Canadian history now.

[Colin Freebury · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly recommended for anyone interested in an understanding of Canadian history, current dynamics and possible futures.