Nova Scotia: Shaped by the sea : a living history

The words of Thomas Jefferson are never more appropriate than when applied to Nova Scotia. I was born in 1935 and grew up in Nova Scotia. I left in 1959 and have lived in Montreal,New Jersey and since 1975 ,in Mississauga,outside Toronto.The cover of this book immediately caught my attention;particularly the name of the author,Lesley Choyce.It is a surname I'd never come across and certainly not to be associated with Nova Scotia.Both sides of my family were Scottish and Irish immigrants who came to Nova Scotia in the late 1700's, mainly to get away from the oppression of the British and and in search of a life where a man's worth came from his own efforts ,not from his position,religion or privilege. Choyce has written a good book describing the history of Nova Scotia;trying to make sense out of what happened along the way and why things are the way they are today. He covers the early history where Nova Scotia was nothing more to England and France than land to occupy for its resources or military significance.The people,other than military,were conned in every way possible ,all with only one purpose,spread of empire. The forms of government,oppression,prejudices,religious descrimination and all the rest of social systems ,that were so bad in Europe were transported and installed here.While governments fought ,the rule and influence moved back and forth with wins and losses.It was the people themselves that were the real losers.The key when looking at the development of Nova Scotia is to remember there was never a Revolution as there was in the United States.Hence, the mentality of being masters of their own destiny has never replaced the reliance on big government ,mother country,King or Crown to direct and control the lives of the people. Nova Scotia was a British colonly like the other 13 colonies in 1776 when the American Revolution succeeded in driving out the British and creating a country founded on the principles of Life,Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ,Justice ,their own Constitution,Laws and government. That did not happen with Nova Scotia.As the author correctly shows,Nova Scotia had more in common with the American colonies,but nearly 100 years later in 1867 was virtually forced into union through Confederation.The driving force being the Tory Government and greatly supported by England.Certainly there was no wide support of the people as most of them were, or were descendents of, the French,Scottish and Irish who had known the heavy hand of British rule.There never was a vote by the people ;simply the application of Peace Order and Good Government... Canada has been existing ,more or less,under this arrangement for 139 years and is probably less united than in 1867. While the central government continues to control,the provinces are forever squabbling and even fanning flames of separation in Quebec,Alberta,BC,and the Maritimes. The author doesn't really get into it too much;but as you read this book ;keep asking yo

I am planning a trip to Nova Scotia this summer and was surprised at the dearth of informative books about the province. This work was all I came across that appeared to be likely to give me some background that would enhance my trip. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. In addition to providing an insightful history the book is quite entertaining. The only addition I would wish for would be a good map.

Lesley Choyce is a novelist, not a historian -- something that shows through in Nova Scotia: Shaped by the Sea. The book is well written and gives a compelling portrait of this corner of Atlantic Canada, but at times the history seems to barely dent the surface.Arranged in 45 short (usually four- to five-page) chapters, Choyce covers Nova Scotia from the geologic prehistory of the land through European colonization and into the fish wars of the 1990s. Throughout it all he manages to strike a nice balance between veneration of important historical figures and lamentation of the wrongs imposed upon the environment, Native Americans and others.Although Choyce obviously doesn't love everything that has been done by the people of Nova Scotia over time, he does love the province -- something that shines through in the brief historical vignettes of this book.