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140th out of 166 books
—
31 voters
Extraordinary Canadians: Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont: A Penguin Lives Biography
Louis Riel is regarded by some as a hero and visionary, by others as a madman and misguided religious zealot. The Métis leader who fought for the rights of his people against an encroaching tide of white settlers helped establish the province of Manitoba before escaping to the United States. Gabriel Dumont was a successful hunter and Métis chief, a man tested by warfare, a...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
October 5th 2010
by Penguin Canada
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A powerful book, one that gathers nearly all of the strands of Canadian history and weaves them into one whole. Just as the Metis themselves gather so many parts of Canada into themselves. Over the past few decades, since the teachers first started talking about Canadian history, I've layered facts and theories onto my experiences of Canada today. This book somehow connects them all even if only for this one, narrow event.
I wish all Canadians would read this book.
It is powerfully written. Boyd...more
Louis Riel is one of the most controversial heroes/villains in Canadian history. He fought for native and French rights while the identity of Canada was beginning to form. In Extraordinary Canadians: Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont, Giller Prize-winning novelist Joseph Boyden writes about the roles of Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont during the Northwest Rebellion. As an acclaimed novelist, Boyden intertwines his ability to craft a suspenseful and elegant narrative with the fascinating historical st...more
OK so I have gone about this all backwards. I ought to have read Three Day Road and Through Black Spruce first, and then compared this book to Boyden's style in those novels. But I didn't.
While I did have some general knowledge about the events surrounding the Red River Rebellion and Louis Riel's trial, there was a whole lot of which I was ignorant. In general I am fascinated with 19th century Canada and its struggles - they seem so foreign to the Canada that I know today. The way in which John...more
While I did have some general knowledge about the events surrounding the Red River Rebellion and Louis Riel's trial, there was a whole lot of which I was ignorant. In general I am fascinated with 19th century Canada and its struggles - they seem so foreign to the Canada that I know today. The way in which John...more
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Wow. Confession first. I am a bit embarrassed that I knew so little about this part of Canadian history. This book was very well written and a pleasure to read. The story is remarkable and tragic - reality trumps fiction. This has peaked my interest in learning more about this period in history and Gabriel Dumont in particular. Thank you to Joseph Boyden.
Boyden wrote this book as part of the Extraordinary Canadian series and is a departure from his two great novels. A lot of Canadian history about the Metis is packed into the book. Both Riel and Dumont fought long and hard for the rights and lands of the Metis. Unfortunately their fight was in vain.
The beginning and end are as fast as the opening sequence in the film verson o Water For Elephants, but the middle which covers those two years that forever changed the lives of Louis Riel, Gabriel Dumont, and all of the Metis Nation is covered well for first timers. A quick read and a good addition to the xtraordinary Canadians series.
A short review for what I thought was just a rehash of everything I've ever read on Dumont and Riel. I thought it might be longer, and more descriptive, with more imaginative storytelling that I know Joseph Boyden can provide, but I was a bit disappointed.
I'm sure there is a lot more info to the story, but this is a great overview of the Metis struggle.
An eye opener for the Métis.
This book was excellent particularly from the trial onward. I can see why Boyden is an acclaimed novelist. The epilogue addition in comparison with the rest of the series is great as well.
Oct 22, 2012
Julia
marked it as didn-t-finish
need to finish this book
May 18, 2013
Kristie
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2013
Zen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
aboriginal,
amazing,
bio-memoir,
canadian,
history,
postcolonial,
psychology,
short,
glued-to-page
Apr 01, 2013
Will
marked it as to-read
Mar 29, 2013
Eric
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2013
Christina
marked it as to-read
Mar 10, 2013
Jen
marked it as to-read
Mar 05, 2013
Bryan Miller
marked it as to-read
Feb 21, 2013
Jasmine Parisian
marked it as to-read
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Joseph Boyden is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.
He grew up in Willowdale, North York, Ontario and attended the Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School. Boyden's father Raymond Wilfrid Boyden was a medical officer renowned for his bravery, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was the highest-decorated medical officer of World War II.
Boyden, of Irish, Scottish and Métis heritage...more
More about Joseph Boyden...
He grew up in Willowdale, North York, Ontario and attended the Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School. Boyden's father Raymond Wilfrid Boyden was a medical officer renowned for his bravery, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was the highest-decorated medical officer of World War II.
Boyden, of Irish, Scottish and Métis heritage...more
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