The Reluctant Land: Society, Space, and Environment in Canada before Confederation

Alternatives Journal, August, 2009 by Ben Laurie

The Reluctant Land: Society, Space, and Environment in Canada before Confederation, Cole Harris.

As a European-Canadian interested in the history of my people's migration to northern North America, I found this book enthralling. Harris leads the reader through geographically defined chapters, weaving together the forces of social and geographical change that have shaped Canada in the past, and the social, spiritual and economic dimensions of the place it is today. The book traces the changes in settler populations, missionaries and colonial governments over the last 500 years. A highly enjoyable read, this volume will be useful for settler and indigenous Canadians alike.