Description
The Musson Book Company, Toronto [Published Date: 1927]. Hardcover, 269 pp. Stated First Edition.
Rare, out-of-print & unusual books · Since 1997
17
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Condition & notes
In good condition / Missing dust jacket. Blue cloth covered boards with gold lettering on spine. Light bumping to edges of covers and light overall scuffing and soiling to covers as well with most of the gold rubbed off on the lettering on spine. Binding tight. Previous owner's name stamped and hand-written in ink on front free end paper. Pages lightly aged but otherwise unmarked, with occasional light spotting. NOT Ex-Library. NO remainder marks. Missing dust jacket. A candid survey of Canada in the 1920's by an unapologetic, dyed-in-the-wool imperialist from Ontario. W. Eric Harris was businessman from Sarnia who later had some success as a playwright in the 1930's, writing two award winning plays that were performed in London. [From New York Times review, Nov. 6, 1927] Ardent in his love for his native land, Mr. Harris, who says that he is the fifth generation of Canadian birth, has written this book in the hope that its frank, heart-to-heart, talk of Canadian problems and Canadian spirit will inspire Canadian readers toward a stronger and more purposeful national unity. Briefly he surveys the history of land and recounts some of the deeds and praises some of the men wherein shone the spirit of loyalty that he wishes to inculcate. Then he sets forth the difficulties that lie in the way of developing and strengthening this spirit of national devotion due to geographical and geological conditions, surveys the special situations that exist in different sections, and discusses at some length the ways in which partisan zeal increases the difficulty of creating and nourishing unified feeling. The economic problem of the tariff, upon which Canadian opinion Is much divided, receives attention. Some of the important domestic problems of the present moment are discussed, with a special chapter devoted to unemployment with which the Dominion, singularly enough, seems to be much cursed. The chapter on the relationships of Canada with the United States will be interesting to American as well as to Canadian readers, and its frank comments on the influences which flow over the border from the south and their effect on Canadian life ought to make wholesome, if somewhat chastening, reading for those who want to know why others do not always love us as much as we love ourselves. Canada's place in the British Commonwealth and her duty to her mother country are set forth, and the author concludes with a chapter on "The Whole Duty of the Canadian," in which he pleads with Canadians everywhere to strive greatly for the welfare of their country and for the forwarding of the spirit of national unity.