Hostages to Fortune: The United Empire Loyalists and the Making of Canada
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About this ebook
In 1776, tensions in the British colonies were reaching a fever pitch. The citizenry was divided between those who wished to establish a new republic and those who remained steadfast in their dedication to the British Empire. As the tensions inevitably boiled over into violence, fault lines were exposed as every person was forced to choose a side. Neighbours turned against each other. Families divided. Borders were redrawn.
The conflict was long and bloody, and no side emerged unscathed. But there is one story that is often overlooked in the American Revolutionary canon. When the smoke from the battles had settled, tens of thousands of individuals who had remained loyal to the crown in the conflict found themselves without a home to return to. Destitute, distraught, and ostracized—or downright terrorized—by their former citizens, these Loyalists turned to the only place they had left to go: north.
The open land of British North America presented the Loyalists with an opportunity to establish a new community distinct from the new American republic. But the journey to their new homes was far from easy. Beset by dangers at every turn—from starvation to natural disaster to armed conflict—the Loyalists migrated towards the promise of a new future. Their sacrifices set the groundwork for a country that would be completely unlike any other. Neither fully American nor truly British, the Loyalists established a worldview entirely of their own making, one that valued steady, peaceful, and pragmatic change over radical revolution. The Loyalists toiled tirelessly to make their dream a reality. And as the War of 1812 dawned, they proved they were willing to defend it with their very lives.
In Hostages to Fortune, Peter C. Newman recounts the expulsion and migration of these brave Loyalists. In his inimitable style, Newman shines a light on the people, places, and events that set the stage for modern Canada.
Peter C. Newman
PETER C. NEWMAN has been writing about Canadian politicsand business for nearly half a century. The author of twenty-fourbooks that have together sold more than two million copies,Newman has won some of the country?s most illustrious literaryawards, both as an author and a journalist. A former editor-inchiefof the Toronto Star and Maclean?s, Newman has beenrecognized with seven honorary doctorates, a National NewspaperAward and election to the News Hall of Fame. He hasbeen called twice to the Order of Canada and has earned histitle as Canada?s ?most cussed and discussed? commentator.
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Reviews for Hostages to Fortune
4 ratings1 review
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This book presents both a biography of the Loyalist Jarvis family, and a history of the time in North America. Unfortunately, it falls short on both accounts. There is a lot of general history of the time, little of it specific to the Loyalist experience -- with the notable exception of how Loyalists were discriminated against in the U.S. colonies. I found many generalizations, a Toronto-centric view that goes too far in attributing to Loyalists the shaping of our country -- largely ignoring the contributions of Aboriginal Peoples and other immigrants. The narrative of the Jarvis family wasn't strong enough to carry the story forward.I'm sure you can find a better book on the Loyalists.