I am rather surprised to be the first person to review this book, since Donald Creighton's biography of John A. Macdonald is considered a classic in Canadian history. The book was first published in two parts, in 1952 and 1955, and both parts won the Governor General's award for these two years. At that time its topic was relatively new, since there had been only a few detailed biographies on Macdonald written in the half century before Creighton's (such as the one written by sir Joseph Pope, Macdonald's literary executor, who had at that time control over Macdonald's papers -- which were donated to the Public Archives of Canada in 1917) and even fewer books on the great politician have been written since Creighton's. But with all this new wealth of information now available to historians, Creighton was able to shed new light upon this famous Canadian statesman.

But Creighton's book is more than a conventional biography. It tries to make history come to life. Indeed, Creighton wrote Macdonald's biography in the shape of a novel, which means that the only quotations in the book are either from newspaper articles or from letters written by, to, or about John A. Macdonald. No secondary work is quoted in the entire book, even though it appears that Creighton read extensively on the subject before writing his book. The book includes endnotes, but it does not read like a conventional history book. The novel-like approach used by Creighton makes the book a pleasure to read. Creighton succeeds in making Canadian history interesting.

However, Creighton's book is also representative of its time, and representative of Creighton's personal beliefs. Creighton, who died in 1979, was known as a Canadian nationalist with strong anti-American tendencies. His choice of John A. Macdonald as a subject rather than, for example, William Lyon MacKenzie King (another famous Canadian Prime Minister), might be explained by the fact that Macdonald was himself a nationalist. Macdonald once declared: "A British subject I was born, a British subject I will die," and his famous National Policy, which favoured the development of the Canadian West and which introduced high tariffs on American goods, is still considered as one of the most nationalistic policies ever applied in Canada. Creighton, therefore, chose Macdonald as topic because of the similarities between their political positions. Therefore, Creighton is sympathetic to Macdonald throughout the book. Creighton's position regarding French-Canadian nationalism and Quebec separatism (he saw them as disruptive elements that weakened his beloved Canada against the United States) also had an impact on how the book was written, which is particularly evident when he writes about the two Metis rebellions in a rather unsympathetic way.

Also, the novel-like type of writing does have a disadvantage: it only allows the reader to know a single view on Macdonald. Historical books written in the conventional manner often include different positions on a single event, but in the case of Creighton's book, the narrative strength of the novel simply cannot include more than one version, since the sweeping narrative would otherwise be broken up by different views, and the book could consequently lose all of its appeal.

In summary, because the book has a clear bias in favour of Macdonald, and because it has not aged well (this style of writing is not used anymore by historians, because of the limitations it creates, the sacrifice of impartiality in favour of a continuous narrative form), I believe it does not deserve a full mark. On the other side, Creighton's book is interesting to read as an example of the historical research method of its time. And I must also admire Creighton's skill for making history come to life. We must thank him for his use of a writing style that makes Canadian history accessible to the larger public. And the caricatures by the Canadian cartoonist Bengough, that are present throughout the book, are an extra treat.

Lewis and Clark get all the acclaim, but we should not forget that Mackenzie made it overland to the Pacific first. Mackenzie's account is every bit as fascinating, exciting, and at times harrowing as Lewis and Clark's. I most enjoyed the detailed descriptions of Canada's natives and Mackenzie's dealings with them. I was also fascinated by the daily hardships of the voyageurs who accompanied Mackenzie and made this long canoe trip possible. Like most old travel diaries, there are many lattitude/longitude details that become tiresome to the geographical novice. However, the excellent footnotes in this edition make the reader aware of the modern day towns and landmarks that Mackenzie passed. Many times the footnotes got me through some of the more dull passages in the book. I would heartily recommend this exciting account to anyone who enjoys early accounts of American and Canadian exploration and travel.

"The Journals of Susanna Moodie" poems are interesting and spare in style. I have not gone through the whole collection, but Margaret Atwood has written a thought-provoking account (through poems) of Susanna Moodie. Any serious or avid poem reader should consider this collection of related poems.

Bought this for my Grandmother last christmas. She is reading it to the seniors book club at her loge and they love it. Grandma requested the other titleJust a Minute fr this Chistmas.

Listen, eh....Korea was Canada's forgotten war, too, eh? Melady wrote this book to point out that Canadian troops fought in those rice paddies and on those ridges, too. 516 Canadians died as a result of the Korean War. The book is more than battlefield stories. In sweeping prose Melady covers the post world war II tragedy of Korean division; how Maj. General Hodge hurt the process of rebuilding the south; and the desperate, sometimes comical, sometimes heroic, ROK resistance in the wars' early hours.

Back in Canada, Melady shares stories of the rush to enlist..one fella with a scar from his neck to to his naval who claimed it was for an appendectomy; another guy in the medical corps, who told the psychiatrists he liked to go out at night and strangle sheep.

But by far the most intriguing story is that of the mysterious Dr. Cyr, aka Fred Demara. From March to October 1951 this fellow masqueraded as Surgeon-Lieutenant Cyr and practiced medicine (admittedly often by stealing a look at a textbook or soliciting help from other medics) on the Cayuga for six months, even managing to pull one of the Captains teeth. Eventually, the real Dr. Cyr, back in New Brunswick, happened to read a story about himself in the newspaper. The ruse fell apart shortly afterwords.

Still, the book is not all jest and off-the-cuff irony. Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry fought gallantly and tragically at Kapyong-ni in early 1951, preventing a breach in the UN lines and perhaps the fall of Seoul (again). For this they were awarded the Presidential Citation for 'Outstanding Heroism'-- the only Canadians to ver receive this award. Quite an accomplishment for soldiers who, a few months before, were afraid the War would be over before they arrived in Korea.

Pindell knows just when to switch from the grand sweep of history to the tiny details of train travel, and paints a picture of our nearest neighbor that is surprisingly complete. Although Pindell expresses justifiable nostagia for routes that have been axed since his journey, a great number of spectacular rides are still to be taken in Canada. Everyone who loves the "torque of travel" should consider the cross-continental trip to Vancouver or Prince Rupert, the bi-lingual route from Toronto to Halifax, or the "Polar Bear Express" to the edge of Hudson's Bay. Don't leave home without Pindell.

Lots of interesting information and useful facts about Field Commander Cohen's life and work. Well laid out with plenty of photographs and appendices. The book does not gloss over The Ladies Man pre-recording days, as other related material does.

The only criticism is that it is too sycophantic. Best example of this is the awe with which Leonard's university reading list is presented - Everybody Knows students don't read a quarter of the books they should, preferring to lead The Smokey Life instead. But if He's Your Man then it is worth a read.

I would rate the book slightly higher. Four and a half stars is closer to the actual mark I would give it, but between "perfect" (five stars) and "great" I would say the book is great (four stars). I just finished this book today in French class; each member of the class each read a different part. It is not a book I would pick for myself, but now that I have read it, I am glad it was in the itinerary. Tremblay's style of writing is keen and neat; he intersperses tragedy with comedy cleverly and without seeming to do so deliberately. He is able to make the characters sound real and each has their own manner of speaking. It seems like they are actually having a conversation that isn't scripted like a movie; the French the characters use is slangy and familiar, leaning toward the absurd at times. It is a humorous absurd though; it makes you laugh as well as think about the nuances of speech. Some people say that French books are boring; I've seen books in French that seem to have a more interesting story than this one. That is only at first glance. This story is deeper and more human, thus it is universal. I recommend this book to anyone who can read French, and I am surprised that I am the first to review this book. It is well-written and saturated with character and personality. It's a good example of what you should be looking for if you are broadening your horizons and are reading more French.

Given the reduced and somewhat rattletrap state of the modern no-longer-royal Canadian navy (now laboring under the bureaucratic shroud, 'Canadian Forces Maritime Command'), John D. Harbron's story of the RCN in the Second World War is an especially educational and evocative one.

The story is nothing less than one of transformation. From its 'miniscule' starting point in 1939, the RCN was by 1945 the fourth largest navy in the world, with nearly 500 ships in commission. Almost all of those had been constructed during the war in Canadian shipyards, which also were able to turn out more than 400 critically needed merchant vessels for the North Atlantic convoys. Thousands of men and women who had no experience with the sea were turned into a disciplined and efficient fighting force, building a war record of which any nation could be proud.

While not intended as a comprehensive history of fleet actions, 'The Longest Battle' nevertheless tells its story effectively. In the battle of the North Atlantic, German U-boats and Canadian ships squared off without ceasing from the start of the war to the final surrender -- hence the title, 'The Longest Battle.' The fighting often surged into Canada's own waters, sometimes as far west as the St Lawrence River itself.

Harbron also gives us a brief but descriptive look at the various classes of Canadian warships, the growth of the merchant navy, the history of the Wrens (officially, Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, or WRCNS), and, interestingly, a chapter about the RCN's antagonists, the U-boats and their crews. There is also a touching section telling the stories of two RCN families and their wartime experiences.

Harbron also argues that the transformation of the RCN had a lasting effect on Canada's society. In the 1940s, Canada was far more British, culturally and ethnically, than it is today. He writes, 'Canadian nationalism was reborn in the wartime mess decks of the Royal Canadian Navy. In September 1939 the tiny Canadian navy went to war as a pliant auxiliary of the [British] Royal Navy. In May 1945, it emerged at the peace as a full-blown, confident Canadian national institution in which Canadians from all our geographic regions and many ethnic communities had been drawn together in a common cause' (p. 19).

A book this size can only skim the surface of all there is to tell about its subject. But packed as it is with great photos and informed, personal writing, it does credit to the ships, their crews, and the navy that at a time of crisis lived up to its stirring motto, 'Ready, Aye Ready.'

Tim Wynne-Jones has a delightful way of telling. From an adults point of view you can easily remember when you thought and felt all these experiences (some things never change) and for reluctant readers these stories just take hold and they have to finish them. Fun gift for the adult who hasn't forgotten and also for any kid who needs to know others have strange experiences too.