The Canoe: An Illustrated History

Geoff Cragg is a tenured instructor in the Faculty of General Studies at
the University of Calgary in Alberta.

Just as its title states, this slim and handsomely illustrated volume
attempts to provide a history of the canoe, primarily in Canada. After a
discussion of the properties and construction of the three major types
of canoes (dugouts, bark canoes, and skin boats), the author relates the
place of the canoe in the contact between European and Native people,
its central importance in the fur trade, and its role in warfare. Later
chapters concentrate on the canoe’s significance as a symbol for
personal freedom and a means of recreation. The book concludes with
advice on selecting a canoe and equipment (a topic that demands a
separate volume). Although a comprehensive account is not to be expected
of such a brief volume, Poling presents a coherent and interesting
account of the canoe’s history, drawing on a variety of primary
sources. Historical photographs and paintings, often stunning,
complement the text.

In trying to bring his history to the present, the author perhaps
attempts to do too much. Nonetheless, he deserves praise for this
scholarly and beautiful treatment of an enduring Canadian symbol.