Forest and Other Gleanings: The Fugitive Writings of Catharine Parr Traill

Elisabeth Anne MacDonald-Murray teaches English at the University of
Western Ontario.

In this collection of little-known writings by Catherine Parr Traill,
the editors have attempted to set the record straight. Known primarily
for her depiction of pioneering life in The Backwoods of Canada (1836),
Traill has been largely dismissed by critics as a backwoods “happy
homemaker” on account of the work’s perpetually optimistic view of
life in early Upper Canada, and particularly in comparison to her sister
Susanna Moodie’s more complex and ironic Roughing It in the Bush
(1852). Through this collection of sketches and stories, however,
Peterman and Ballstadt seek to show Traill’s development as both a
writer and a pioneer.

While many of the selections were originally published in 19th-century
magazines, others have been drawn from archives and are new to print.
They range from satirical sketches and reminiscences of early pioneer
life to nature studies. Several pieces depict the darker side of life in
the Canadian wilds, such as the dangers faced by women in the woods and
Traill’s own particular fear of losing a child in the forest. And
reflected throughout is the author’s indomitable optimism, which is
revealed to be not mindless sugar-coating but the result of great inner
strength and determination.

Peterman and Ballstadt present an excellent introduction to the volume,
including a biography of Traill, which situates her writing career
within the context of a long, hard, and frequently debt-ridden life in
the young colony. They also provide short prefaces to each of the
selections. The work as a whole offers an eye-opening introduction to an
often-forgotten author.