A Short History of Canada. 3rd ed.

Kerry Abel is a professor of history at Carleton University. She is the author of Drum Songs: Glimpses of Dene History, co-editor of Aboriginal Resource Use in Canada: Historical and Legal Aspects, and co-editor of Northern Visions: New Perspectives on the North in Canadian History.

First published in 1983 and aimed at the general reader, A Short History
of Canada has been revised and updated twice.

The latest version includes a new preliminary chapter on the First
Nations and two new chapters on contemporary issues. Other minor
modifications have been made throughout. Unfortunately, the new first
chapter is marred by the use of the term “Innu” when “Inuit” was
clearly required, and by a rather dismissive observation on the use of
oral tradition that seems to result from a misunderstanding of the ways
in which professional historians use those traditions. The final chapter
has a good review of the Meech Lake debate and the Somalia affair, but
un-fortunately slips in its discussion of the Oka crisis, which is
incorrectly interpreted as resulting from the Mohawk “campaign to
regain lands granted them as refugees from the American Revolution.”

The emphasis of the book is on the 20th century, and the storyline
primarily follows political and economic developments. Those looking for
social history will be disappointed, but the focus on political economy
does make a coherent narrative, and we are taken on a galloping romp
through the big events. The author, a prominent Canadian historian,
casts a sceptical eye over both events and their interpretations, and is
not afraid to pass judgment on the players in the game (Liberals and
Conservatives are lambasted equally). He also clearly identifies popular
misunderstandings, in his view, of events like Confederation or the
Rebellions of 1837–38. While not every historian will agree with
Morton’s interpretations, he makes his case effectively and
vigorously.

At a time when pollsters and educators are decrying the general lack of
knowledge among Canadians about their history, this lively, engaging,
and provocative book deserves a wide readership.