The Penguin History of Canada

by Kenneth McNaught

Canada possesses a history rich in incident and personality. In this classic, definitive work, Professor McNaught traces that history from the earliest expeditions in search of fish and fur to the 20th century. "An exemplary exercise in compression and lucidity".--D.H. Murdoch in THE TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT.

Genres: History, Canada

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Kenneth McNaught was professor of history at the University of Toronto.

Reviews

[Sean DeLauder]

Let me save you some time.

There are ZERO penguins in Canada.

[Aadhaar Verma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the book needlessly prolix, making for an often inscrutable reading experience. Here is one example from Chapter 2 (pg. 31):

"The fur trade was a continual drain on settlement as well as an encouragement to incautious extension of continental claims. [...] New France thus failed to duplicate the spectacular triangular trading system of New England and was to pay heavily for her almost exclusive concentration on the interior of the continent".

Questions:
1. Why was the fur trade a drain on settlement? I was under the impression that it was one of the principal reasons the French expanded New France from Quebec to New Orleans. How, then, was it a drain?
2. What exactly was the triangular trading system? As someone versed in economic history, I am familiar with the term, but I suspect this sentence would be opaque to a general reader.

The first three chapters are filled with similarly dense passages, resulting in a plodding read that often leaves the reader more confused by the end of a chapter than when he had begun to read it. Avoid.

I will continue searching for a more accessible book on Canadian history. For now, I am going back to Harold Innis's "The Fur Trade in Canada". It's economic history, but at least it is clearly written.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and readable survey, becoming somewhat (inevitably) dated. Very good survey of the history of New France and the struggle in both Upper and Lower Canada to pull free of the gravity of the colonies/states to the south. The latter portions of the book were very full of details about parliamentary legerdemain and party political conniving, and that grew a little tiresome and hard to follow for me, especially since the discussion of the arts and humanities in Canada got such short and rushed shrift in the end. Virtually absent from the discussion except in the beginning when the Huron and Iroquois nations figure prominently are First Nations peoples and pretty much all non-European minorities, which neglect while not rendering the book without value, does render it seriously lacking in completeness and accuracy, especially for major cities like Edmonton and Vancouver.

[Benjamin Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book on the ethnic, cultural and political development of the Canadian nation. Explores fears of the unknown frontier, ethnic differences between the English and French colonies and the resistance to ‘continentalism’ with their southern neighbour. An enjoyable read for anyone who wants an introduction to Canadian history

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

After going to Canada and celebrating Canada Day, it became clear how little I knew of the history of our neighbor to the north. It's fascinating to find out how little they prize independence and didn't really officially become a country until like the 90s. This book was a bit dry, but the history was quite interesting.

[David Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and comprehensive.
A little dated towards the end, the fact that this book was written in the 60's really shows through.

[Paula Murtagh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good info but run on sentences lead to a loss of the thought before it is finished. Difficult read.