CBU Press’s first batch of e-books is now on stream. Thomas, A Secret Life, A Possible Madness, Blood Brothers in Louisbourg and Trapper Boy are all available from both Kobo and the Amazon Kindle Store. Coming soon to Apple and Sony.
CBU Press’s first batch of e-books is now on stream. Thomas, A Secret Life, A Possible Madness, Blood Brothers in… Continue»
Watch for the full review of French Taste in Atlantic Canada in the [Charlottetown] Guardian this Saturday (Nov. 3).
“Altogether a delightful book, based on an accumulation of details – not only what the better-off 18th century French people ate, but the tools with which they prepared it, the pots they cooked it in, and even the tablecloths and cutlery they used. If this book appeals to you at all, you will live it.”
Elizabeth CranWatch for the full review of French Taste in Atlantic Canada in the [Charlottetown] Guardian this Saturday (Nov. 3). “Altogether a… Continue»
The Sunday Herald (October 28) records Trapper Boy by Hugh R. MacDonald as a best seller in Cape Breton. Congratulations Hugh. We recently added a link to the Trapper Boy website: a CBC interview by Wendy Bergfeldt with Hugh on Mainstreet (Oct. 5). Give a listen!
The Sunday Herald (October 28) records Trapper Boy by Hugh R. MacDonald as a best seller in Cape Breton. Congratulations Hugh…. Continue»
The latest edition of CM Magazine, a journal based out of University of Manitoba, well-respected and popular for its reviews books for young people, includes a review of Blood Brothers in Louisbourg by Philip Roy. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
“Evocative detail, lyrical language and good pacing make this novel a winner. […] Highly Recommended.”
Read the full review at: http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol19/no8/bloodbrothersinlouisbourg.html
The latest edition of CM Magazine, a journal based out of University of Manitoba, well-respected and popular for its reviews… Continue»
A glowing review in the latest edition of Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society Journal (vol. 15, pp. 139-40) of Necessaries and Sufficiencies: Planter Society in in Londonderry, Onslow and Truro Townships, 1761-1780, by Carol Campbell and James F. Smith (winner of an Atlantic Book Award for historical writing).
“This is the best piece of historical writing in book form on Nova Scotia’s New England Planters. […] The scholarship is outstanding. […] The thoroughness of the research sets a very high professional standard.”
“…the best account of local history to be published in a generation as it greatly overshadows the currently dismal reputation of local history in Nova Scotia.”
High praise for Carol and Jim’s efforts. Congratulations.
A glowing review in the latest edition of Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society Journal (vol. 15, pp. 139-40) of Necessaries… Continue»
Prof. Robert Campbell (Reading the Qur’an in English, Women, War & Hypocrites) will give a talk on October 25 entitled “Intellectual Property, Traditional Knowledge and Oral History” in observance of Mi’kmaw History Month.
Prof. Campbell, Associate Professor of Management, has a background in the sociology of religion. Thursday’s talk will look at the problems that emerge instudying the ways that knowledge is produced, owned and shared … and the challenges faced by those who research and write about indigenous knowledge systems.
The talk is scheduled at Cape Breton University, 12 noon in room CE-265.
Prof. Robert Campbell (Reading the Qur’an in English, Women, War & Hypocrites) will give a talk on October 25 entitled “Intellectual… Continue»
A.J.B. Johnston’s Thomas, A Secret Life will be the focus of a special “open book club” and a featured reader at the monthly Governors Book Pub
Award-winning writer A.J.B. Johnston’s novel Thomas, A Secret Life (CBU Press) will be the subject of an open book club session at the McConnell Memorial Library next month.
Open book clubs are an opportunity to question the author and to take part in an informal discussion about the book, share thoughts on it, get the story behind it and to question the choices made in writing the book.
In this case, Thomas, A Secret Life is the imagined life of Thomas Pichon (1700-1781) as a youth in his native France. Pichon is known to Canadian historians as the Spy of Beausejour.
John Johnston is well-known as a historian and the author of a dozen books and more than a hundred articles on 18th-century French colonial history. Over the years his research crossed paths with Thomas Pichon many times.
Atlantic Books Today calls Johnston “a natural” for Pichon’s story.
“Johnston deftly presents an unrepentant, unsavoury and unreliable [character] in an even-handed manner,” the review said.
As we might imagine, writing historical fact is much different than historical fiction, but Johnston says he relished the opportunity to “imagine” the story instead of recording history. Thomas is a masterful example. It’s a great read and should spark lively discussion.
The open book club session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20, 1-3 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
On the same day, A.J.B. Johnston will be appearing at Coles in the Mayflower Mall (4-6 p.m.) and will read at Governors Book Pub (7 p.m.).
Johnston’s most recent non-fiction was Endgame 1758 (CBU Press, 2008), chronicling Louisbourg’s last decade. The book won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio award and was a finalist for an Atlantic Book Award.
In 2011, Johnston was invested as a Chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms by the government of France for his lifelong historical achievements.
A.J.B. Johnston’s Thomas, A Secret Life will be the focus of a special “open book club” and a featured reader… Continue»
The most extensive website for Canadian railroad history and historians recently published an article by Herb MacDonald about 19th-century railroading in Cape Breton.
Trainweb.org recently posted Herb’s article: “Mining Railways and their Locomotives in 19th Century Cape Breton.”
The article draws entensively from Herb’s book Cape Breton Railways: An Illustrated History (CBU Press, 2012) available in most bookstores in the region.
The most extensive website for Canadian railroad history and historians recently published an article by Herb MacDonald about 19th-century railroading in Cape Breton. Trainweb.org recently… Continue»
October 17, CBU Press and the Cape Breton Fossil Centre in Sydney Mines hosted the launch of Hugh MacDonald’s new book, Trapper Boy. Scroll down to see some photos from the night.
Hugh MacDonald signs copies of Trapper Boy.
Peggy Butts created a Trapper Boy cake especially for the launch.
Hugh MacDonald reads selections from Trapper Boy.
The crowd enjoys the generous amount of treats at the launch.
The Miner’s Memorial Wall, commemorating those who worked in the mines.
October 17, CBU Press and the Cape Breton Fossil Centre in Sydney Mines hosted the launch of Hugh MacDonald’s new… Continue»
Truro native A.J.B. (John) Johnston will be the focus of a hometown “meet and greet” on Saturday, October 20, at the Colchester Historical Society Museum.
Johnston is well-known as a historian and the author of a dozen books and more than a hundred articles on 18th-century French colonial history.
His most recent non-fiction was Endgame 1758, chronicling Louisbourg’s last decade (CBU Press, 2008), which won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio award and was a finalist for an Atlantic Book Award.
In 2011, Johnston was invested as a Chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms by the government of France for his lifelong historical achievements.
But Johnston has turned his experienced hand to fiction. His much anticipated first novel Thomas, A Secret Life (CBU Press), the fictionalized early life of Thomas Pichon, was launched in September.
Atlantic Books Today calls Johnston “a natural” for Pichon’s story.
“Johnston deftly presents an unrepentant, unsavoury and unreliable [character] in an even-handed manner,” the review said.
Local historians, researchers and friends will gather for the meet-and-greet with John Johnston on Saturday, October 20, at the Colchester Historical Society Museum, 29 Young Street, Truro, 2-4:00 p.m. Johnston will read from Thomas and his books will be available for purchase and signing. Everyone is invited.
Truro native A.J.B. (John) Johnston will be the focus of a hometown “meet and greet” on Saturday, October 20, at… Continue»