First Drafts: Eyewitness Accounts from Our Past

by J.L. Granatstein

From two of Canada's foremost historians comes a highly original compilation of eyewitness accounts from our nation's history. Chosen for their immediacy and engaging qualities, these first-hand accounts are broad in scope, including General James Wolfe's victory at Quebec in 1759; the escape of a fugitive slave; the hanging of Metis leader Louis Riel; suffragette Nellie McClung's crusade for women in 1914; the daring World War I exploits of ace pilot Billy Bishop; the Canadian surrender to the Japanese in Hong Kong in 1941; the modern phenomenon of Wayne Gretzky; and Canada's great success at the 2002 Olympic Games. Drawn from letters, newspapers, reportage, and diaries, these vivid accounts of history in the making cover the range of time from first contact to the present day, providing an exciting and immediate window into Canada's diverse history.

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Jack Lawrence Granatstein is a Canadian historian who specializes in Canadian political and military history. Granatstein received a graduation diploma from Royal Military College Saint-Jean in 1959, his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1961, his Master of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1962, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Duke University in 1966.

Reviews

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

An often absorbing compilation of vignettes from Canadian history, written by first-hand observers. It's informative (didn't know that Glenn Gould thought a piano sonata by little-known Ernst Krenek was one of the most important piano compositions of the 20th century) and frequently touching. Some of the accounts make life from centuries past flash briefly into view as if old videos were suddenly discovered.
The book begins with an account of the Viking settlement of Vinland (possibly on the New Brunswick coast) and goes on nearly to the 2002 publication date. It's only a sampling from Canadian history, but it covers a broad expanse — from crucial historical events to down-to-earth items such as farm women's advice to other women moving from the East to the Prairies in the 1880s (leave the furniture behind and bring plenty of warm clothing was mentioned frequently). Many of the accounts are written in a candid, just-the-facts-ma'am style that enhances their feeling of authenticity.
But there are a couple of clear shifts away from this. Grattan O'Leary, later a journalistic legend and then a young reporter, reconstructed the sinking of the Titanic based on interviews with survivors at the docks of New York City in 1912. His overripe prose marked a turn away from the sturdy and plain accounts of earlier years. Then, sometime in the 1950s, the accounts drift more toward the glossy professionalism of modern journalists, often accompanied by an increasing presence of the writers' own personalities and views. Many of the entries after the mid-1950s focus on politics and sports, and the earlier feeling of contact with real life fades. That led me to round down to 4 stars. Among the surprises is the clear presence in past centuries of personal and cultural habits still recognizable in Canadian life.

[Ryan Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating accounts of Canadian history through the eyes of folks that you don't know (some you do), haven't heard of (some you have), from the origins of first contact through to the 50th anniversary of Canada winning gold in hockey (look it up). Articles are short, poignant and diverse.