For Love of a Woman

Susan Patrick is a librarian at the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.

The “love of a woman” was the motivation that prompted Edward Evans
to risk his life by deserting from the British navy on the west coast of
Newfoundland in 1841. The story of the efforts of this ordinary man to
begin life anew, and his ultimate establishment of a ship-building
dynasty of several generations, was the motivation for his
great-great-grandson to undertake the task of reconstructing the family
history.

The book contains a wealth of information, with detailed facts and
figures about the ship-building business and daily life in Newfoundland
in the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th.
The author has obviously done extensive research into the history of
Newfoundland, his own family’s records and recollections, and
primary-source writing from the time. The book is illustrated with many
photographs of ships and family members; unfortunately, the dark
printing often obscures the details of the subject. Although the casual
reader may find the tone of the work somewhat dry, this book is a
valuable addition to writings on the local history of Newfoundland, and
may serve as an inspiration for others to investigate their past and
discover their own family’s story.