The Land and People of Canada (Portraits of the Nations)

Malcolm, Andrew H.

ISBN 10: 0060224959 ISBN 13: 9780060224950

Publisher: HarperCollins

Synopsis

Introduces the history, geography, people, culture, government, and economy of Canada

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Few geography books compare and contrast their subjects with the US as well as this one does. In sophisticated terms, Malcolm (a dual citizen of Canada and the US) describes how Canadians feel about themselves, each other, and their sometimes overbearing neighbor. The geographic, social, and cultural facts usually presented in the ``Portraits of the Nations'' series are all here, but the author's greatest achievement is giving Canada's problems meaning and interest for ``Americans.'' ``First Canadians'' rate their own chapter; and although Canadian political history is less violent than ours, the conflicts will be no less interesting to those concerned with surviving our own racial and ethnic divisions. Though Malcolm describes Canadians as very different from the US population, especially in their effacing self-image, many similarities are also apparent. The style's lively, with the information presented clearly, but chapters seem to have been written independently: facts will be reintroduced as if for the first time, without cross- referencing. Many ``boxes'' list brief facts (number of farms in the Yukon: 0); there are also longer boxed accounts of important topics (how ice affects northern life), and stories about both well-known and obscure individuals. An excellent resource. Maps and b&w photos not seen. Extensively annotated bibliography and filmography; index. (Nonfiction. 14+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 7 Up-- An attempt to provide a historical, statistical, and analytical perspective of the nature of this country for non-Canadians by an American who has travelled and studied there. As in the other entries in this series, there are numerous ``fact boxes'' and charts, which could provide researchers with quick information and anecdotes. However, some stretch on for pages and break up the flow of the narrative. Malcolm's tone is cerebral and riddled with generalizations. Editorial comments about the Canadians' lack of competitiveness or ``special northernness'' are particularly offensive. He writes, ``They are also among the world's less violent people,'' and goes on to compare homicide rates with that of New York City without citing actual statistics or per capita data. The illustrations include small black-and-white photographs and reproductions. The maps are clear and have good keys. --Lucinda Lockwood, Thomas Haney Secondary School, Maple Ridge, BC
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• ISBN 10: 0060224959
• ISBN 13: 9780060224950
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 220