Canadian Founding History is a compelling subject that takes readers through the nation’s rich heritage, from early explorations to its development as a modern country. Here are the Top 10 Best Books on Canadian Founding History, ranked from the 10th to the 1st.
Emily Roberts is a passionate historian and author with extensive research experience in Canadian history. She offers her expert recommendations on books that explore the key moments and figures in the foundation of Canada.
10. Contested Land, Contested Memory: Israel’s Jews and Arabs and the Ghosts of Catastrophe
Author: Jo Roberts
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 (47 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
This book offers a unique perspective by examining the relationship between land and memory in the context of Israel’s and Canada’s histories. Roberts’ analysis of settler colonialism provides insights that resonate with Canada’s own contested history.
Why You’ll Love It: The book’s comparative approach is both enlightening and provocative, encouraging readers to reflect on the foundation of nations through different lenses.
Fun Fact: Jo Roberts is also a well-known human rights lawyer.
9. Better Than Balderdash: The Ultimate Collection of Incredible True Stories, Intriguing Trivia, and Absurd Information You Did
Author: Owen Janssen
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 (149 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
Owen Janssen offers a delightful book that weaves together fascinating facts about Canadian history. It’s an easy, fun read that offers intriguing bits of knowledge on the foundation of the nation.
Why We Choose It: This book is perfect for readers who enjoy trivia and want to learn more about Canadian history in bite-sized, entertaining pieces.
Fun Fact: The book covers lesser-known facts about Canadian settlers and early explorers.
8. Distracted and Defeated: The Rulers and the Ruled
Author: Mike Bhangu
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 (175 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
Mike Bhangu provides a thought-provoking exploration of the power dynamics at play during Canada’s founding. This book dives deep into how power shaped the early days of Canada, reflecting on its long-term consequences.
Why You’ll Love It: It’s an insightful read for those interested in the political forces that defined early Canadian society.
Fun Fact: Bhangu is also an established filmmaker, contributing his narrative skills to this in-depth analysis.
7. A Brief History of Canada: How the Clash of French, British, and Native Empires Forged a Unique Identity
Author: Dominic Haynes
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
Dominic Haynes delivers a clear, concise overview of the key moments in Canadian founding history. The book delves into the complex relationships between French, British, and Indigenous peoples that shaped Canada’s identity.
Why We Choose It: This book is ideal for readers looking for a thorough yet easy-to-read history of Canada’s early formation.
Fun Fact: Haynes originally wrote the book as part of a series on North American history.
6. Hélène’s World: Hélène Desportes of Seventeenth-Century Quebec
Author: Susan McNelley
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 (168 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
McNelley beautifully recounts the life of Hélène Desportes, one of the first European women to settle in Quebec. Her story offers a fascinating glimpse into the challenges of early Canadian life.
Why You’ll Love It: Hélène’s World is a wonderfully human narrative that immerses readers in the everyday life of one of Canada’s first settlers.
Fun Fact: Hélène Desportes was the first child of European descent to be born in New France.
5. Descended from the Mothers of Québec: Exploring the Story of My Family’s Fifteen Filles du Roi Ancestors
Author: Paul Harvey Horton Jr.
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 (2 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
In this engaging personal narrative, Paul Horton dives into his family’s history, tracing the lives of the Filles du Roi, the women sent by the French Crown to help populate Quebec.
Why You’ll Love It: It offers a unique blend of genealogy and historical analysis, providing both personal and broad perspectives on Canada’s founding.
Fun Fact: The Filles du Roi program was a key element of France’s strategy to strengthen its claim in the New World.
4. St. John’s Newfoundland Downtown Charm Notebook: Lined Notebook
Author: Morgan Mouland
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
This unique notebook captures the charm of St. John’s, one of Canada’s oldest and most historically significant cities. It serves as a perfect companion for historians and travelers alike.
Why We Choose It: This notebook is a delightful gift or tool for anyone visiting or researching St. John’s rich history.
Fun Fact: St. John’s, Newfoundland, is considered the oldest city in North America, founded by European settlers.
3. The Women of Ville-Marie: Pioneers of Seventeenth-Century Montréal
Author: Susan McNelley
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
McNelley’s work is a tribute to the courageous women who were vital to the establishment of Montreal. The book is filled with detailed accounts of these women’s lives and contributions.
Why You’ll Love It: This book stands out for its focus on the pivotal role women played in Canadian history, often an overlooked perspective in historical narratives.
Fun Fact: Ville-Marie is the original name of Montreal, established in 1642.
2. Grandfather of the Treaties: Finding Our Future Through the Wampum Covenant
Author: Daniel Coleman
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 (7 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
Coleman’s exploration of the treaties that shaped early Canada is an invaluable resource for understanding Indigenous history and its enduring legacy. The Wampum Covenant holds vital lessons for the present and future.
Why We Choose It: This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Canada’s founding from an Indigenous perspective.
Fun Fact: The Wampum Covenant was a significant diplomatic tool between Indigenous peoples and European settlers.
1. It Happened in Vermont (It Happened In Series)
Author: Mark Bushnell
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 (7 reviews)
Category: Canadian Founding History
Although set in Vermont, Bushnell’s book provides an excellent parallel study of the history of North American colonization, including early Canadian settlements. This comprehensive narrative allows readers to explore the interconnected histories of the U.S. and Canada.
Why You’ll Love It: Bushnell offers a fresh perspective on the regional history of early settlers, which connects Vermont’s and Canada’s founding stories.
Fun Fact: Many of Vermont’s early settlers had strong ties to Canadian territories.
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