Memories of a Cape Breton Childhood
Description
Contains Photos
$12.95
ISBN 0-921054-41-6
DDC 971.6'9503'092
Author
Publisher
Year
Contributor
Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.
Review
Following an introductory family genealogy, Peach recounts memories from
his childhood, from his youth and employment in a coal mine, and from
family legends.
Cape Breton, to Peach, meant coal and poverty. His objective is to help
readers understand the impact of both on his generation. Unfortunately,
his ornate, amateurish style and the disorganization work against its
effectiveness.
Cape Breton from about 1900 to 1930 was home to a unique culture.
Although Peach is ideally positioned to present a view of that special
time and place, the book falls short of bringing the period to life. The
information is there, but it requires a very determined reader to suffer
through the ramblings and irrelevancies. Regrettably the book’s value
is that of a family history, of local interest only.