Oxford Companion to Canadian History

From Booklist
The purpose of this wide-ranging guide is to provide "the basic details of the main events, institutions, places and people in Canada's past." Editor Hallowell is a former senior editor of Canadian history at the University of Toronto Press. The Companion's impressive 1,654 entries, the work of more than 500 mostly academic subject experts, are arranged alphabetically and range in length from a few sentences to two pages. Cross-referencing is indicated by asterisks within entries. In addition to the A-Z articles, the book contains a precise index; lists of monarchs, governors general, prime ministers, and provincial premiers; and the words of the national anthems. Text is complemented by ten basic maps, five depicting the historical settlement of Canada and five identifying geographic locations. The entries cover several major subject areas, including politics and the constitution, industry and the economy, education and religion, law, medicine and science, transportation, and social and cultural history and effectively reflect the regional, linguistic, and cultural diversity of Canada. For example, there are several excellent articles devoted to Canada's aboriginal peoples. In addition, there are extensive articles related to the nation's "founding peoples," the French and British. Finally, there are entries discussing other key groups, including Jews and Chinese and African Canadians. Other entries cover common Canadian topics such as Anne of Green Gables, Fur trade, Hockey, and peacekeeping. This is an excellent entry point into Canadian history, although it should be noted that treatment of topics is deliberately brief and, because of space constraints, there are no suggested readings or a bibliography of sources. The volume will be particularly useful as a quick reference for users who are already very familiar with Canadian history. Lower-level undergraduates and general readers may need to refer to The Canadian Encyclopedia (McClelland & Stewart, 2000) for further details. Nevertheless, the Companion is highly recommended for all Canadian libraries, as well as any U.S. library near the Canadian border or supporting Canadian history or Canadian studies programs. Michelle Hendley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
This indispensable new guide to Canadian history is comprehensive, authoritative, and--above all-- companionable. It the essential guide to the significant events, issues, institutions, people, and places that have shaped Canadian life from earliest times to the late twentieth century. In more than 1,700 entries, the country's leading historians describe and analyze events in political, military, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual history, drawing on the latest scholarship. Topics such as gambling, potlatches, abortion, hockey, capital punishment, jackatars, and shipwrecks find a place alongside more traditional entries like prime ministers and suffragists, exploration and fur trade, railways and responsible government. Politicians, soldiers, scientists and industrialists, feminists, social activists and religious leaders, all make an appearance. Vikings and Basque whalers, Jesuits and filles du roi, the Huron Feast of the Dead, privateers, charivaris, the Acadian grand derangement, the Metis buffalo hunt, rebellions, the On-to-Ottawa trek, bunkhouse men and bush pilots, the battle at Vimy Ridge, gold rushes, Spanish influenza, Frontier College, corvettes, trade unions, midwives, Automatistes, the Mad Trapper, La Bolduc, free trade and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, all contribute to the fascinating story which is Canada's history. Entries are arranged from A-Z and fully cross-referenced, with a complete index to guide readers to related topics. This new companion provides learned, accessible, and up-to-date studies of the key subjects and personalities in Canadian history.

About the Author
Gerald Hallowell had a distinguished career as the acquisitions editor in charge of Canadian history at University of Toronto Press for 22 years. During his time at UTP, he published numerous award-winning books by virtually all of Canada's top historians, including one Governor-General's Award winner for non-fiction and five MacDonald Prize winners. He retired in June 2000.


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"Here, in a single volume, is the essential reference book for all those interested in Canadian history. From the Norse to Nunavut, The Oxford Companion to Canadian History provides an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the significant events, issues, institutions, places, and people that have shaped Canada from earliest times to the present." "Drawing on the latest scholarship, over 500 contributors describe and analyze events in political, military, social, economic, and cultural history. Gambling, potlatches, hockey, capital punishment, jackatars, and shipwrecks find a place alongside more traditional entries such as prime ministers and suffragists, exploration and the fur trade, railways and responsible government. Politicians, soldiers, scientists, athletes, entrepreneurs, social activists, and religious leaders all make an appearance." The 1654 entries are arranged from A to Z, with cross-references and a complete index to guide readers to related topics. Ten maps complement the text. Designed to appeal to scholars and students as well as the general public.


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