Bercuson has obviously used his past research to good effect in this volume (he even quotes one of the WWII Calgary Highlanders he interviewed for BATTALION OF HEROES early on in this one.) Bercuson demonstrates a solid grasp on the social and political history of the Canadian Army, tracing its roots to the middle ages, in an easy to read and well written book. This is not just a description of the murder committed in Somalia, but a detailed look at why the Army has come to be the way it is.

I'm a Yank, but I was in Somalia at the time the Somali was murdered. This book describes both the incident in good detail and the (disgraceful) disbanding of the CAR, but also addresses the larger issue of the role of the military in modern Canadian society. The author notes that with recent defense cutbacks and a deemphasizing of the old values and professionalism that had made Canada successful in battles like that of Vimy Ridge in WWI, that Canada may no longer seen, internationally, as a country deserving respect.

All of the author's points are well written and valid (and hopefully someone in Ottawa has read this book...), but I deducted a star because he does not mention the role that melafloquine, an anti-malarial drug that was taken in Somalia, may have played in the murder.

-Tom

The book is a well written well search analysis of the history of the Social Credit movement through the developmental years of Canada's current political climate.

The topic is quite interesting but Stingel's writing style is sporadic. It goes from embracing to monotonous. If you can get through the dry periods you will be quite well informed about Canada's dark past of anti-semitism.

In Social Discredit: Anti-semitism, Social Credit, And The Jewish Response, Canadian social researcher Janine Stingel aptly surveys the virulent, belligerent, anti-Jewish campaign undertaken in Canada by Social Credit before, during and after the years of World War II. While most Canadians acknowledged the perils of race hatred in the wake of the Holocaust, Social Credit continued to intensified its post-war anti-Semitic campaign. By examining Social Credit's anti-Semitic propaganda, and the reaction of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Stingel details their mutual antagonism and explores why the CJC was unable to put a stop Social Credit's blatant defamation. When Social Credit eventually and gradually abandoned its anti-Semitic trappings, the CJC began to adopt the assertive, activist public relations philosophy that was to make it an effective champion of human rights in Canada. Social Discredit is highly recommended reading for students of 20th Century Canadian political and social history, and Judaic studies.

this book is full of self-created misadventures by a love-sick college professor...i am not sure whether or not it is intentionally humorous but i found it to be hilarious in its bleak blackness...one bad thing after another for this poor self-involved creature...well worth reading....slim and captivating.

Very elegant. Very droll. Very Nabokovian.

IN AN EXCELLENT INTRODUCTION, NIGEL SPENCER, THE TRANSLATOR,CONTEXTUALIZES THESE LYRICAL, ELLIPTICAL WORKS...ALL FIVE PLAYSFEATURE FEMALE VOICES ASSERTING THEMSELVES IN PAINFUL DIALOGUE WITH MALE PARTNERS. OSCILLATING BETWEEN INTIMATE PERSONAL DETAIL AND PHILOSOPHICAL ABSTRACTION, BETWEEN TENTATIVENESS AND AGGRESSION, EACH PLAY PROBES A DIFFERENT SENSIBILITY, A DIFFERENT TENSION.

. . . THE DIALOGUE IS RENDERED EVEN MORE POIGNANT BY THE ACCOMPANYING MUSICALITY OF BLAIS' LONG POETIC LINES. . . . PERHAPS THE MOST EVOCATIVE OF ALL IS THE STUDY IN CONTRASTS, "FEVER"--A BEAUTIFULLY ORCHESTRATED DIALOGUE BETWEEN A WIFE AND A HUSBAND IN WHICH SHE UNVEILS HIS HYPOCRISY AND HER COMPLICITY AGAINST THE EXOCITICIZED BACKDROP OF MOROCCO.

. . . READING THESE ENIGMATIC MUSINGS SET AMIDST HIGHLY VISUALIZED BACKGROUNDS OR SETS, ONE PARTICIPATES IN THE EQUIVOCAL, TENUOUS RELATIONS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, SPEECH AND SILENCE, OPPRESSSION AND FREEDOM. AS BLAIS, THROUGH THE VOICE OF HER TRANSLATOR, SO ELOQUENTLY PUTS IT: "BUT HERE I AM, AND HE LISTENS. IT IS LATE. AT LEAST, HE SEEMS TO LISTEN."

Blais' drama, undergoing a new resurgence of interest, mostly in the U.S. (U. of Miami., Washington, etc.,) is seeing increased performance in both English and French.

WINTERSLEEP presents the unique shorter, or "chamber", plays of an intimacy and a subtlety that are unique and may suggest new directions for the modern theatre, especially for directors who are not afraid to blend different media and life-size puppets with live actors, and evoke fluid and shifting states of consciousness.

In the wake of the disgraceful decision made by the Canadian government to disband the Canadian Airborne Regiment, this book serves as a useful reminder of why it was that Airborne forces remained an essential component of any army's order of battle. Nolan presents a narrative of the development of Canada's first parachute unit and describes in detail its commitment to battle during the North-west Europe campaign. Colourful characters and anecdotes make the story entertaining as well as informative. An essential work that should be read by any Canadian military history enthusiast or by those interested in the history of airborne forces in general.

This story of a student who moves to Canada from a dangerous life in El Salvador is very entertaining. Although short I reccommend it be checked out by anyone, it has something for you all.

Ann McDougal's insights into her aunt Anne Savage provide a wonderful tapestry to compliment Anne Savage's art work. Well written, with lovely art plates. Gives historical context to the art world during the height of the Group of Seven.

Like the sound of a distant train whistle late at night, the selections in Michael Gee's Anthology of Steam Railroad Poetry will stir memories in anyone with even the remotest connection to the romance the glory years of railroading. Engineers, firemen, brakemen, stationmasters, townspeople and cowboys all come alive one more time in the verses written by the people who originally fell under the spell of the "engines that truly alive seemed to be."ÿ

Mike Barnes is an exceptionally skilled writer at the start of his career. This book is a carefully and lovingly crafted collection of quirky yet touching stories, with the ring of true feeling. I am looking forward to his future offerings.

This is a really neat book for those Canadians- and Americans too! Pierre Burton retells the battle of Lake Erie in an interesting, exciting way, from both sides point of view. Definetly a good book for first time Burton readers