Charlotte Gray

Draws on new research to offer insight into the inventor's private life, as well as his passionate drive for new innovations, discussing the influence of his speech therapist father and deaf mother on his work, his tempestuous relationship with his wife, and his avoidance of fame and fortune.

Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill were writers and artists who left England for Canada during the great wave of emigration that saw over twelve million Britons abandon their homeland for the Colonies in the 19th century. Against the odds, the sisters carved successful careers for themselves as writers, and their despatches about the harsh realities of pioneer life were avidly read in England. In this book, award-winning author Charlotte Gray vividly brings her subjects to life and draws a brilliantly clear picture of life in the backwoods of Canada. Using the women's correspondence and personal papers as well as their published works, this meticulously researched, beautifully told biography is a compelling read and valuable addition to literary history.

This show-and-tell book features images of artifacts, fossils, letters, newspaper comic strips, advertisements and manuscripts from various periods in Canadian history. Each image is followed by historian Charlotte Gray’s description of the item - much like a museum guide. The richness of the collection allows readers to feel as if they are handling the original items themselves. This pictorial museum is divided into 25 rooms of exhibits, from the dinosaurs that roamed Canada two billion years ago to Geoffrey Ballard’s hydrogen fuel cell. The book can be enjoyed casually or used as a primary reference source for students of Canadian history.

Reflective writings on topics that are taboo to speak of in female culture.