Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta

by Aritha van Herk

The fifth title in our provincial histories series, Mavericks is an idiosyncratic and episodic history of what is arguably Canada's most unconventional province. From mapmakers to ranchers, Stampede Wrestling to Stockwell Day, acclaimed writer Aritha van Herk brings the drama and combative beauty of this irascible province to stunning life. van Herk's portrait of her home province embraces all its extremes, from deadly and spectacular weather to dinosaur graveyards, and from oil gushers and geysers to barnstorming social reformers and political haymakers. Bronc-riders of boom and bust, Alberta's people are a beguiling mixture of opinionated extremists, hardy pioneers and gentle sinners. Alberta is a province that most Canadians simply don't understand, the province most Canadians love to hate. It is regarded as a land of reckless, redneck and ignorant individualists. But it is also the province where the Famous Five fought the landmark Person's Case, giving Canadian women the same status as men in the eyes of the law, a province that truly believes in free speech. Albertans tolerate in their midst people whose extreme views on any manner of subjects would make them outcasts elsewhere. And Albertans practice the creed of western neighbourliness, giving assiduously to charity and always lending a hand where help is needed. They are a tough, tender bunch, squinting into the wind of determined difference. If you're an Albertan, you'll recognize yourself and your home in this book. If you're not an Albertan, this book will be an education for you. Mavericks will open your eyes to the real Alberta, as she was and is.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada

480 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Aritha van Herk is a Canadian writer, critic, editor, and university professor.

Her parents and elder siblings immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands before she was born. She grew up in a bilingual home, speaking English and Dutch. In 1974, she married Robert Jay Sharp, who is a geologist. Van Herk studied Canadian literature and Creative Writing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, graduating with a B.A. Honours in 1976, and an M.A. in 1978. Since 1983, Aritha van Herk has been teaching at the University of Calgary. She teaches Creative Writing, Canadian Literature, and Contemporary Narrative.

Reviews

[Mara Jule · Rating 2 out of 5]

van Herk is a literary professor attempting to be an historian. With her frequent use of figurative language one cannot be entirely certain that she is speaking fact or just being hyperbolic. Nor does she make any effort to remain unbiased, commenting on even the images used in her books according to her own prejudices while frequently reminding readers that the primary sources she is quoting are biased. All in all, van Herk's writing can be summarized by one of the personal anecdotes she felt compelled to start each chapter. In the anecdote van Herk describes the farm where she was raised and how as a child she thought it held the tallest tree in the world; when a boy pointed out the tree next to it was larger van Herk records, "He was right. And I hated him. For I had given this tree meaning and magic, made it a shrine in my universe, my wilderness, my territory" (110). Unwilling to filter her own biases, prides, and disappointments about the province she is supposed to be recording a history of, one begins to wonder if this recollection of Alberta is another "tallest tree" she is unwilling to be disillusioned about.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book infuriates me - the Feds have been treating Alberta horribly since the 1880’s. They don’t have the oil so their answer is to leave it in the ground. Alberta gives billions of dollars each year to Ottawa so they can fritter it away on stupid shit.
The Liberals are horrible corrupt idiots !!

[Frederic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting history of the Western Canadian Province of Alberta, from its foundational geology to about the year 2000. Aritha van Herk is an accomplished Alberta fiction writer who has taught creative writing at the University of Calgary for decades. She came to my attention in the 1980s, when I read her excellent novel "The Tent Peg."

Van Herk writes much better than most historians. She's on thinner ice discussing politics and tends to default to the typical Humanities tropes when she veers into economics, which she doesn't grasp well enough to handle events that don't quite fit her basic "Albertans are just such contrarians" narrative.

For a more current, numerate discussion of Alberta's political history, see "Moment of Truth" by Dr Jack Mintz et al, "Ralph versus Rachel: A Tale of Two Alberta Premiers" by Dr Mark Milke and "Breakdown" by Dennis McConaghy.

With that caveat, "Mavericks" is a colourful and entertaining read.

[Jacob Mcconnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you don’t mind Van Hirk’s consistent editorializing, it’s quite an engaging history of Alberta, and as someone living here, I came away with much more of a sense of its place-hood than I had going in.

It kind of reads like a sassy Mom regaling you with Alberta’s history, sprinkled with all kinds of little side-stories throughout. If you’re onboard with that approach, and I was, you’ll get something out of this. She may be sassy but she’s done her research.

I’d say we could use an up to date history for general population consumption( the book was published around 2001), but for now this will do.

[Trudy Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and learned a lot but there was too much emphasis on Alberta’s hatred of the centre - Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec. Many chapters seemed repetitive. Disappointed that there wasn’t at least one more paragraph about Grant Notley. Dated as it was written in 2000.

[Marilyn Letts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent exhaustive (and perhaps exhausting?) history. Everyone should read the chapters on indigenous history in Alberta and then pick and choose which other subjects you're interested. The repetitive attack on the "centre" of Canada felt a little limiting.

[Richard Worden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important study of Alberta. I hope the author brings out a sequel.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a little longer than I wanted. But interesting read! I like learning about Canada.

[Bejohnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite long and got a little slow moving. but very interesting history of alberta. should be a school text book for albertans