The Skeena: River of Destiny

Barry M. Gough is a professor of history at Wilfrid Laurier University
and the author of The Northwest Coast: British Navigation, Trade, and
Discoveries to 1812.

First published in 1957, this classic history of the Skeena River
remains a prized possession for any serious collector of British
Columbia history. Its reappearance in this attractive paperback edition
means that the secrets of the River’s heritage will be better-known at
home and abroad. The author, a medical doctor and a politician, knew the
region and its waters intimately—and he knew many of the pioneers
about whom he wrote. His easy style and vital prose made The Skeena,
upon its first appearance under the auspices of the B.C. Centennial
Commission, the recognized authority on regional history. The book, then
as now, shows that, far from being a cul-de-sac, the Skeena was a vital
artery of life in central British Columbia. Kenneth Campbell of Prince
Rupert provides a good introduction to this new edition, which is
enhanced by illustrations and notes.