Further Reading
Canada has a strong literary tradition. Among the best-known writers are Nobel Prize (2013) and Man Booker prize winner Alice Munro (Friend of My Youth, Runaway), Man Booker prize winners Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient), Jann Martel (The Life of Pi), and Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Blind Assassin). Over the past several decades, the multicultural face of Canada has found its outlet in literature through authors such as Joseph Boyden, Rohinton Mistry, Jane Urquhart, Wayson Choy, Douglas Coupland, M.G. Vassanji, Gabrielle Roy, and Elizabeth Hay. Each writes with a strong sense of place – the geography of Canada is often as much a character as the protagonist.
General
Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden. An unforgettable novel about contemporary aboriginal life, with the contrast of forest and city framing this powerful story.
The Call of the Wild is one of Jack London’s best-loved masterpieces, dating back to 1903. It is an adventure story set in the Yukon gold rush, depicting the unquenchable spirit of Buck, a kidnapped dog trying to survive in the harshest of environments. Despite its antiquity, this book remains a classic in the adventure genre.
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler. Set in Montréal, Richler depicts the sheer determination of a working-class Jew to “make it” in a white Anglo-Saxon world.
Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen. Although the world-famous singer/songwriter is best known for his music, the Montréal native started his career as a poet back in the 1960s. He has written well over a dozen books, this one examining the cultural forces that have shaped his city.
I Married the Klondike by Laura Beatrice Berton is a memoir of her life in the mining town of Dawson City in the Yukon, from her arrival as a single, 29-year-old kindergarten teacher in 1907, at the end of the gold rush, to her reluctant departure as a wife and mother in 1934.
Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay. A delightful read, with lovable if sometimes pathetic characters living in the magic of the North. The descriptions of the land and the impact of outside development are interspersed with an appealing dark humor.
Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park by Leonard Brody, Ken Grant, and Matthew Holland. Designed to cut through traditional Canadian modesty, this book looks at how over 30 Canadian innovators have redefined the landscape of business in the global technology sector.
Random Passage by Bernice Morgan. The epic story of an Irishwoman, Mary Brundle, and her perilous odyssey from a harsh English workhouse to the remote Newfoundland outport of Cape Random – a struggling settlement forced to be a community through the sheer will to survive.
Still at the Cottage by Charles Gordon. A funny yet affectionate look at cottage life, one of the enduring elements of the Canadian psyche.
The Colony of Unrequited Love by Wayne Johnston. A gripping novel about Joey Smallwood, the true-life controversial politician who was responsible for bringing Newfoundland into the confederation of Canada in 1949. It helps those “from away” understand better the quandaries faced by the proud and passionate Newfoundlanders.
This is my Country, What’s Yours? A Literary Atlas of Canada by Noah Richler. Originally a CBC radio documentary, Noah Richler interviewed the who’s who of Canadian literature about the places and ideas that are most meaningful to their work, to create a bold cultural portrait of contemporary Canada.
Two Solitudes by Hugh MacLennan. This novel, first published in 1945, has become such a classic that the title has moved into common parlance to describe the linguistic and cultural conflicts between Canada’s two founding nations.
Who Has Seen the Wind by W.O. Mitchell. First printed in 1947, this is a classic tale of a boy growing up on the prairies of Saskatchewan during the Depression years. Mitchell presents an evocative glimpse of small-town life and death as seen through a child’s eyes.
History
A Short History of Canada by Desmond Morton. This readable book succeeds at teaching what history classes in school never did.
Canada: A People’s History, Vol. I and II by Don Gillmor, Achille Michaud, and Pierre Turgeon. These richly illustrated books tell the epic story of how Canada came to be the nation we know, from its earliest days.
The Arctic Grail: The Quest for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole, 1818–1909 by Pierre Berton. One of Canada’s most popular chroniclers, Berton’s wonderful storytelling style and excellent research brings to life the explorers who traveled the Arctic, often with disastrous results.
Passages: Welcome Home to Canada is an anthology of essays by immigrants – now public figures and authors – to Canada. It examines the concept of home and how the experience of being an immigrant is increasingly the binding Canadian experience.
A Flag for Canada: The Illustrated Biography of the Maple Leaf Flag by Rick Archbold. Since its birth in February 1965, the red-and-white Maple Leaf has become one of the world’s great flags. This intriguing story reflects the history of the country as seen through the evolution of Canada’s national symbol.
A Fair Country: Telling Truths About Canada by John Ralston Saul. Making an argument that the Métis nation and the aboriginal way of thinking had as much impact on the growth of Canada as that of the English and French, Saul writes that Canada’s future rests upon the need to recognize and value the First Nations’ original contributions to the country.
Language
French Fun: The Real Spoken Language of Quebec by Steve Timmins. Written by an Ontario translator who now lives in Montréal, it takes a humorous look at the colorful idioms in common use.
The Dictionary of Newfoundland English, edited by G.M. Story, W.J. Kirwin, and J.D.A. Widdowson. First published in 1982 to widespread acclaim, this historical dictionary focuses on the varieties of English spoken in Newfoundland over the last four centuries. An entertaining book, it offers a wide view of the island’s unique culture.
Travel Literature
Smalltown Canada by Stuart McLean. A well-known author and radio host takes his readers on a cross-country tour of small-town life in seven communities across Canada, presenting a humorous, rich portrait of the people and their history.
Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw by Will Ferguson. A humorous account of the writer’s three-year journey around Canada using every mode of transportation – from helicopter to canoe – imaginable.
The Good Life: Up the Yukon Without a Paddle by Dorian Amos. The story of a couple from England who decide to sell up and move to Canada in search of a better life and the people and problems they come across before finding the dream they were looking for.
City of Glass: Douglas Coupland’s Vancouver by Douglas Coupland. The cult author turns his pen to his hometown.
Passage to Juneau: A Sea and Its Meaning by Jonathan Raban. Raban documents his 1,000-or-so-mile journey from Seattle up the Inside Passage to Alaska.
Sacré Blues: An Unsentimental Journey Through Québec by Taras Grescoe. A spicy, irreverent examination of a unique part of North America, with nary a mention of a politician. It explores the heart of contemporary Québec and how it relates to its neighbors.
Other Insight Guides
Insight Guides
The Insight Guides series is the main series in the Insight stable, known for its superb pictures, in-depth background reading, detailed maps, excellent coverage of sights, and comprehensive listings section.
There are a number of Insight Guides to North America. Current titles include Alaska, and USA On The Road.
Insight City Guides
Insight City Guides are written by locally based writers, who show you how to make the most of the city.
There are Insight City Guides to North American cities including Boston, Seattle, and Vancouver.
Insight Fleximaps
There is also a Insight Fleximap, with clear cartography, travel information, and a laminated finish, available for Toronto.