The Promise of Canada

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"On the eve of Canada's sesquicentennial celebrations comes a new book from acclaimed historian Charlotte Gray about what it means to be Canadian. In The Promise of Canada, she weaves together portraits of nine influential Canadians, creating a unique history of the country over the past 150 years. What do these people--from George-Étienne Cartier and Emily Carr to Tommy Douglas, Margaret Atwood, and Elijah Harper--have in common? Each, according to Charlotte Gray, has left an indelible mark on our country. Deliberately avoiding a 'top down' approach to our history, Gray has chosen people whose ideas have caught her imagination, ideas that over time have become part of our collective conversation. She also highlights many other Canadians, past and present, who have added to the ongoing debate over how we see ourselves, arguing that Canada has constantly reimagined itself in every generation since 1867."-- Adapted from dust jacket