The surest way to the hearts of a Canadian audience is to inform them that their souls are to be identified with rock, rapids, wilderness, and virgin (but exploitable) forest. This critical statement no longer explains Canada's largely urban culture. Multiculturalism, feminism, postmodernism, and regionalism—these and other vital movements jostle for expression in today's Canada. Wherever there's a centre, a new margin vies for attention. Whenever a new voice catches the country's ear, another appears to challenge it. However styles form, new ways of expression keep shaping themselves. Nation without a narrative? Yes. But in the music, literature, painting, history and popular culture of this country, you can always find a soul.
PART ONE: MARGINS AND CENTRES
From “Conclusion”
The Fur Trade in Canada: An Introduction to Canadian Economic History Harold A. Innis
Cornelius Krieghoff: 1845-1865 Dennis Reid
Hollywood’s Canada: The Americanization of Our National Image Pierre Berton
“Many Tender Ties”: Women in Fur-Trade Society in Western Canada, 1670-1870 Sylvia Van Kirk
The Canadian Postmodern Linda Hutcheon
By a Lady: Celebrating Three Centuries of Art by Canadian Women Maria Tippett
PART TWO: THE NORTH
The True North Strong and Free Carl Berger
The Cremation of Sam McGee Robert Service
The Logic of Ecstacy: Canadian Mystical Painting 1920-1940 Ann Davis
Snow Frederick Philip Grove
Mon Pays Gilles Vigneault
Snowbird Gene MacLellan (sung by Anne Murray)
The Idea of North Otto Friedrich
PART THREE: TWO SOLITUDES
Two Solitudes Hugh MacLennan
A Season in the Life of Emmanuel Marie-Claire Blais
Third Solitudes: Tradition and Discontinuity in Jewish-Canadian Literature Michael Greenstein
The Imaginary Indian: The Image of Indian in Canadian Culture Daniel Francis
PART FOUR: NATIONALISM
Canada Sir Adolphe Basile Routhier & Robert Stanley Weir
Towards the Last Spike E.J. Pratt
Nationalism in Canadian Literature Frank Watt
Home Truths: An Introduction Mavis Gallant
Creed F.R. Scott
El Greco: Espolio Earle Birney
Male Rage Poem Pier Giorgio Di Cicco
PART SIX: REGIONALISM
Newfoundland E.J. Pratt
High Realism in Canada: Alex Colville Paul Duval
A Boy’s Prairie W.O. Mitchell
Sarah Binks Paul Hiebert
Montreal A.M. Klein
Things Made by Inuit Marybelle Myers
PART SEVEN: BEAUTIFUL LOSERS
My Financial Career Stephen Leacock
Six Journey: A Canadian Pattern Charles Taylor
Lament for the Dorsets A.W. Purdy
The Animals in That Country Margaret Atwood
Foxes Timothy Findley
The Twelve Days of Christmas “Bob & Doug MacKenzie”
PART EIGHT: MULTICULTURALISM
Obasan Joy Kogawa
Kurelek’s Vision of Canada Joan Murray
Harriet’s Daughter Marlene Nourbese Philip
The Blacks in New Brunswick W.A. Spray
PART NINE: IDEOLOGY IN CULTURE
Canada’s Flag John Ross Matheson
Biography
Dr. Elspeth Cameron is the author of three award-winning biographies: Hugh Maclennan: A Writer's Life, Irving Layton: A Portrait, and Earle Birney: A Life. She also published an award-winning memoir in 1997 titled No Previous Experience. Professor Cameron teaches in the English Language and Literature department at Brock University.
