Wayfarer

Setting off on foot from Winchester, Ken Haigh hikes across southern England, retracing a traditional route that medieval pilgrims followed to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Walking in honour of his father, a staunch Anglican who passed away before they could begin their trip together, Haigh wonders: Is there a place in the modern secular world for pilgrimage? On his journey, he sorts through his own spiritual aimlessness, while crossing paths with writers like Trollope, Keats, Austen, Swift, Dickens, and, of course, Chaucer. On Foot to Canterbury is part travelogue, part memoir, part literary history, and all heart.

Using the richness of braided essays, Theresa Kishkan thinks deeply about the natural world, mourns and celebrates the aging body, gently contests recorded history, and considers art and visual phenomena. Gathering personal genealogies, medical histories, and early land surveys together with insights from music, colour theory, horticulture, and textile production, Kishkan weaves a pattern of richly textured threads, welcoming readers to share her intellectual and emotional preoccupations. With an intimate awareness of place and time, a deep sensitivity to family, and a poetic delight in travel, local food and wine, and dogs, Blue Portugal and Other Essays offers up a sense of wonder at the interconnectedness of all things.

Journey across Europe aboard a tandem tricycle in these two Victorian-era travelogues that take readers to England and Italy. A peasant in peaked hat and blue shirt, with trousers rolled up high above his bare knees, crossed the road and silently examined the tricycle. "You have a good horse," he then said, "it eats nothing." -from An Italian Pilgrimage The 1880s was an exhilarating time for cycling pioneers like Elizabeth and her husband Joseph. As boneshakers and high-wheelers evolved into tandem tricycles and the safety bike, cycling grew from child's play and extreme sport into a leisurely and, importantly, literary mode of transportation. The illustrated travel memoirs of "those Pennells" were-and still are-highly entertaining. They helped usher in the new age of leisure touring, while playfully hearkening back to famous literary journeys. In this new edition, Dave Buchanan provides rich cultural contexts surrounding the Pennells' first two adventures. These long out-of-print travel memoirs will delight avid cyclists as well as scholars of travel literature, cycling history, women's writing, Victorian literature, and illustration.

Four years after Therese Greenwood and her husband moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, their new community was shattered by one of the worst wildfires in Canadian history. As the flames approached, they had only minutes to pack, narrowly escaping a fire that would rage for weeks, burn more than 85,000 hectares and force 80,000 people to flee. Personal account of fleeing a Canadian wildfire that devastated a community and garnered international attention. "My eyes filled with tears more than once while reading this book. So terrifying and so tender, it looks clearly and deeply into how we can survive loss and how our treasured objects can be the priceless vessels that carry the stories of both our past and our future." "Therese Greenwood's gripping account of the Fort McMurray wildfire evacuation, the largest and most devastating in Canadian history, is told in the deceptively relaxed manner that often masks true tragedy. You'll read this book with a mounting sense of panic. You'll look around your own house, imagining flames licking at your doors. You have two minutes: what would you save?" "In What You Take With You, Therese Greenwood tells a very personal story of the Fort McMurray Wildfire. By considering the things that she lost in the blaze and the things that were saved, Greenwood takes the reader with her through her own evacuation, the road to safety, the grief that she experienced on losing her home, and the steps to her recovery. It is a beautiful book, sharply observed in the accounting of a disaster that affected the nation, gripping in the particulars of her own journey, and expansive in the questions it poses for us all: How is memory tied to the things we've collected, and what does it mean to make a home?" # 1 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, April 3, 2019 "One of the greatest treasures in life may be to understand both where we have come from and who we have come to be. It seems that Therese's reflections gave her some of those insights. Perhaps reading and reflecting with her might do the same for us." "...as evacuation orders were imposed and as the highway out of town swelled with traffic... [Greenwood] gathered an assortment of objects, from deeply meaningful mementos to items that initially appeared more random... Each of the objects she has retained is carefully considered and contextualized over a number of chapters that fuse past and present, family memories and local histories.... In this surprisingly gripping and deeply moving account, Greenwood considers how we re-establish normalcy in the wake of profound loss." [Full review at https://canlit.ca/article/precarious-places/] "Greenwood's book, What You Take With You, is an amalgamation of life lessons on the resilience needed to recover emotionally and mentally following the May 2016 [wildfire] disaster.... The book analyzes what Greenwood took from her home as authorities began ordering the evacuation of Fort McMurray. She had only 15 minutes to grab what she needed.... Greenwood said each object she took in the frenzy of evacuation had a subconscious and special meaning for her.... Each chapter of her book explains the life lesson tied to these objects and how Greenwood applied those lessons to the aftermath of the fire." [Full article at https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/book-recounting-2016-fort-mcmurray-wildfire-nominated-for-award-1.5096318] Prologue 1 Before 2 The Go Bag 3 The Rolling Pin 4 The Plaster Saint 5 The Sleigh Bells 6 The Beating Heart 7 The Bible and the Bee Book 8 The Cat Photo 9 The Breda Needlepoint 10 The Flattop and The Dobro 11 The Wedding Mirror 12 The Quilt 13 The Award 14 After Acknowledgements

Using the richness of braided essays, Theresa Kishkan thinks deeply about the natural world, mourns and celebrates the aging body, gently contests recorded history, and considers art and visual phenomena. Gathering personal genealogies, medical histories, and early land surveys together with insights from music, colour theory, horticulture, and textile production, Kishkan weaves a pattern of richly textured threads, welcoming readers to share her intellectual and emotional preoccupations. With an intimate awareness of place and time, a deep sensitivity to family, and a poetic delight in travel, local food and wine, and dogs, Blue Portugal and Other Essays offers up a sense of wonder at the interconnectedness of all things. Braided essays about the natural world, aging bodies, family histories, and art and visual phenomena. "Kishkan's lyrical essays glow with the generosity and poetic grace of a richly perceptive mind. Blue Portugal and Other Essays explores natural and human histories, the veins and rivers of then and now, with fierce and tender insight. An overnight train, a weathered rock, a button, a blueprint, the complications of the human heart-all rendered in beautiful prose." Lorri Neilsen Glenn, author of Following the River: Traces of Red River Women "Phantom places resonant with mysterious meaning, dreamy hauntings from half-remembered lives, revenant landscapes fragmented in the prism of memory; the living, the dead; rivers as the veins of life and veins as the rivers of being; migrations through time, geography, and experience; a husband and wife reading Dante's Inferno to each another by firelight and the machinery of medical technology delivering readings from Cancerland-this is just a marvellous book. Theresa Kishkan is amazing." Stephen Hume, author of A Walk with the Rainy Sisters "Blue Portugal and Other Essays is forget-me-not powerful, small sparking essays building and building to cacophonies of bright brilliance. Be prepared to be cracked (Crack. CRACK) wide open-raw, vulnerable and moved: you'll then be carefully knitted and quilted back into a transformed whole. Such is the skill of Kishkan's literary craft: she narrates entire, and stunningly well-researched, universes. From the intimately domestic and inner to the bountiful global and beyond, Kishkan takes you by the hand and the heart. She walks with you through her worded worlds and gently restores you back into a revisioned life, days and places you'll never see quite the same way ever again. Gently profound. Richly delicate. Therapeutic and needed." Sarah de Leeuw, author of Where It Hurts About the Book: • Braided essays about the natural world, aging bodies, family histories, and art and visual phenomenon. • In these interconnected essays, you will float down rivers, explore old maps with news of family history, listen to Bach, sew stars onto indigo fabric, mourn and celebrate the aging body, and tap your toes to the Supremes as the table is laid for a summer feast. • Gathering personal genealogies, medical histories, and early land surveys together with the liminal spaces of memory and insights from music, colour theory, horticulture, and textile production, Kishkan weaves patterns and dangles loose threads, welcoming readers to share her intellectual and emotional preoccupations. • The title essay recalls a wine she first drank in her grandmother's homeland; another dances with memories of mothering and the structure of Bach's Partita No. 2 for solo violin. • With an intimate awareness of place and time, a deep sensitivity to family, and a poetic delight in travel, local food and wine, and dogs, Blue Portugal and Other Essays offers up a sense of wonder at the interconnectedness of all things. • Author website: https://theresakishkan.com. About the Author: Theresa Kishkan was born in Victoria, BC and has lived on both coasts of Canada as well as in Greece, England, and Ireland. She now makes her home on t

A peasant in peaked hat and blue shirt, with trousers rolled up high above his bare knees, crossed the road and silently examined the tricycle. "You have a good horse," he then said; "it eats nothing." -from An Italian Pilgrimage The 1880s was an exhilarating time for cycling pioneers like Elizabeth and her husband Joseph. As boneshakers and high-wheelers evolved into tandem tricycles and the safety bike, cycling grew from child's play and extreme sport into a leisurely and, importantly, literary mode of transportation. The illustrated travel memoirs of "those Pennells" were-and still are-highly entertaining. They helped usher in the new age of leisure touring, while playfully hearkening back to famous literary journeys. In this new edition, Dave Buchanan provides rich cultural contexts surrounding the Pennells' first two adventures. These long out-of-print travel memoirs will delight avid cyclists as well as scholars of travel literature, cycling history, women's writing, Victorian literature, and illustration. American couple pioneered leisure cycle tourism in Europe via illustrated travel memoirs in the 1880s. 69 B&W images, bibliography, notes, index "In the airy, self deprecating style of Robert Louis Stevenson, an American couple captured the imaginations of UK and US readers through the five illustrated cycle-travel books they created beginning in the 1880s. Yes, bikes existed back then-they were all the rage, in fact-and Elizabeth and Joseph Pennell succeeded in bringing the leisure touring idea to the forefront through their jaunts aboard a tandem tricycle outfitted with luggage racks.... Cycling historian Dave Buchanan contributes an enlightening introduction which grounds the couple in the literary/art world of the late nineteenth century and gives a gearhead sense of bicycling history. But Elizabeth's delightful prose steals the show..." "Cycling historian Dave Buchanan contributes an enlightening introduction which grounds the couple in the literary/art world of the late nineteenth century and gives a geared sense of bicycling history." "[T]he books and articles penned by the Pennells rise to the level of literature. Elizabeth did most of the writing, while Joseph, a lithographer, contributed detailed illustrations of their wanderings." "A Canterbury Pilgrimage/An Italian Pilgrimage is a beautifully illustrated quick read that gives the reader a wonderful sense of how cycling used to be. I was particularly interested in their description of cycling from Florence through Tuscany via Siena as I've pedaled these hills myself. Moreover, Dave Buchanan's extensive (57-page) introduction puts the Pennells' cycling stories into the perspective of the time. If you are looking for a diversion, this is a great little book that is both interesting and beautiful." [Full post at https://nicolaross.ca/a-boneshaking-ride-on-a-velocipede-the-beginning-of-cycle-touring] Acknowledgements Introduction A Note on the Text A Canterbury Pilgrimage An Italian Pilgrimage Notes Works Cited Bibliography Selected Early Cycle-Travel Literature to 1900 The Pennells' Cycling Publications Non-Cycling Books by the Pennells Index

Why couldn't I occupy the world as those model-looking women did, with their flowing hair, pulling their tiny bright suitcases as if to say, I just arrived from elsewhere, and I already belong here, and this sidewalk belongs to me? When her marriage suddenly ends, and a diary documenting her beloved Opa's escape from the Nazi-occupied Netherlands in the summer of 1942 is discovered, Naomi Lewis decides to retrace his route to freedom. Travelling alone from Amsterdam to Lyon, she discovers family secrets and her own narrative as a second-generation Jewish Canadian. With vulnerability, humour, and wisdom, Lewis's memoir of her journey, interspersed with excerpts from her grandfather's diary, asks tough questions about her identity as a secular Jew, the accuracy of family stories, and the impact of the Holocaust on subsequent generations.

As the South African War reached its grueling end in 1902, colonial interests at the highest levels of the British Empire hand-picked teachers from across the Commonwealth to teach the thousands of Boer children living in concentration camps. Highly educated, hard working, and often opinionated, E. Maud Graham joined the Canadian contingent of forty teachers. Her eyewitness account reveals the complexity of relations and tensions at a controversial period in the histories of both Britain and South Africa. Graham presents a lively historical travel memoir, and the editors have provided rich political and historical context to her narrative in the Introduction and generous annotations. This is a rare primary source for experts in Colonial Studies, Women's Studies, and Canadian, South African, and British Imperial History. Readers with an interest in the South African War will be intrigued by Graham's observations on South African society at the end of the Victorian era. Canadian woman writes of teaching in concentration camps following the South African War in 1902. 31 B&W photographs, 2 maps, bibliography, notes, index "Maud Graham's 1905 book about her experiences in South Africa (1902–04) offers a fascinating perspective on the country.... Historians Michael Dawson, Catherine Gidney, and Susanne M. Klausen have made this primary document accessible by republishing it, adding footnotes to Graham's text to help contemporary readers, and writing an extensive fifty-page introductory analysis of her account. They have included many of the wonderful photographs that appeared in Graham's original publication and have added more from Graham's private collection and relevant archives.... Graham's account will help others understand how the British and English-speaking Canadians in South Africa perceived Boers and native southern Africans at the turn of the twentieth century, and her descriptions reveal details about everyday life in South Africa at an important moment of transition.... Graham's book represents the perspective of a well-embedded outsider reporting to far-removed readers, rather than that of a female teacher involved in international or imperial education." This is a contemporary presentation of a historic document with graceful typographical details. The full bleed archival images and unexpected treatment of page numbers and running shoulders, though unusual for a travel memoir, add to its interest. The consistent use of the grid is satisfying. Daphne Geismar, Juror, Association of American University Presses: Book, Jacket, and Journal Show 2016 "This book is recommended for those who wish to learn more about South African history and early race relations or tensions. Graham's opinionated writing will amuse and interest those researching women's studies." African Studies Quarterly, Volume 16 Acknowledgements Introduction CHAPTER I The Call to South Africa CHAPTER II London CHAPTER III Southampton to Cape Town CHAPTER Iv On the Karoo CHAPTER v Norval's Pont Camp CHAPTER v I Johannesburg and Pretoria CHAPTER v II End of the Camp Life CHAPTER v III Fauresmith CHAPTER Ix Kroonstad CHAPTER x The Kafirs and the Labor Question CHAPTER x I Repatriation and Compensation CHAPTER x II Paupers and Government Relief Works CHAPTER x III Education and Church Schools CHAPTER xiv The Farming Question CHAPTER xv Homewards Bibliography Index

All the World's a Mall details a whirlwind world tour in five stops: Edmonton, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Casablanca, chosen because they are home to some of the biggest malls on the planet. Cities within cities, these malls are wonderlands where visitors come from afar to: walk, eat, sleep, watch, swim, ride, photograph, and, of course, shop. With a curious, critical, and sometimes ironic eye, Swiss journalist Rinny Gremaud recounts her travels to and through these monstrous spaces of excess, relaying her conversations with patrons, employees, and executives, and contemplating the effects of globalized commerce. Informative and thoughtful, exhilarating and exhausting, jet-lagged and always air conditioned, All the World's a Mall is a truly memorable, hallucinatory adventure. "[West Edmonton Mall] is like an aging celebrity who knows they are obsolete but who keeps muttering on about the vestiges of their glory." All the World's a Mall is a memorable, hallucinatory travel adventure to five of the biggest malls in the world. Luise von Flotow is a literary translator and a translation studies professor at the University of Ottawa. All the World's a Mall is a memorable, hallucinatory travel adventure to five of the biggest malls in the world. "While the apparent goal of the narrative is to learn about the world's largest malls, Gremaud's journey is as much about globalization, income inequality, and the author's own multicultural heritage as it is about shopping." Karen Sternheimer, University of Southern California "We feel Gremaud's exhaustion as she crosses yet another time zone, entering another mega-mall where she is unlikely to see the light of day for hours or breathe fresh air. Her observations of her fellow travellers are razor sharp." Jonathan Kaplansky, literary translator "Any tourist can describe Burmese jungles or the snows of Kilimanjaro. It takes talent to write a travel book about shopping malls....All The World's A Mall pops and snaps.... All The World's A Mall is fresh and funny and sad. It is the best thing since free parking." Holly Doan, Blacklock's Reporter, November 18, 2023 [Full review at https://www.blacklocks.ca/book-review-malls-on-earth/] Named one of the 100 Best Books of 2023 by The Hill Times, December 19, 2023 • Lausanne • • Edmonton • • Vancouver • • Beijing • • Bangkok • • Dubai • • Istanbul • • Casablanca • • Lisbon •

The style of my book must be in small pieces, as my life has been in pieces. (Jalal Barzanji) From 1986 to 1988 poet and journalist Jalal Barzanji endured imprisonment and torture under Saddam Hussein's regime because of his literary and journalistic achievements-writing that openly explores themes of peace, democracy, and freedom. It was not until 1998, when he and his family took refuge in Canada, that he was able to consider speaking out fully on these topics. Still, due to economic necessity, Barzanji's dream of writing had to wait until he was named Edmonton's first Writer-in-Exile in 2007. This literary memoir is the project Barzanji worked on while Writer-in-Exile, and it is the first translation of his work from Kurdish into English. Foreword by John Ralston Saul. An indomitable passion for the freedom to write fuels Kurdish refugee Jalal Barzanji's unforgettable journey. Professor of English Dr. Salih received his doctoral degree in English from Southern Illinois University in 1989 where he focused on Modern British Literature with a dissertation titled Bernard Shaw in America. His also has a concentration in Literary Criticism and Composition. His Masters of Arts in English is also from Southern Illinois University and his Bachelors of Arts Degree is from the University of Bagdad. In his far too lightweight blue pyjamas, Jalal Barzanji was ripped out of his family and shoved into a nightmare underworld of beatings and raw prisons. Three times over the years since then he has had to rebuild his life.. The Man in Blue Pyjamas is a generous creative act, for which I thank him. -John Ralston Saul, President of PEN International From 1986-1989, Jalal Barzanji endured imprisonment and torture in an Iraqi prison because of his literary and journalistic activity. It was not until 1998, when he and his family took refuge in Canada, that he was able to consider speaking out fully on issues of peace, justice, and freedom. Ever an acute observer, Barzanji offers readers detailed portraits of life in the ancient Kurdish city of Hawler; in prison, he grounds readers with his ability to find moments of compassion and humanity amidst the relentless assault of Saddam Hussein's regime. In 2007, Barzanji was appointed as Edmonton's first PEN Canada Writer-in-Exile. This poignant literary memoir is the product of that residency. The Man in Blue Pyjamas is his first work in English. Jalal Barzanji is a highly respected Kurdish poet and journalist. Since 1970 he has published seven books of poetry and numerous critical columns. After his three-year imprisonment by Saddam Hussein's regime in the late 1980s and further political repression into the 1990s, Barzanji and his family fled to Turkey. They remained there for eleven months, eventually immigrating to Canada. 34 B&W photographs, translator's preface, foreword, map #4 on the "Edmonton Journal" Best Seller list for the week of October 02, 2011. #5 on the "Edmonton Journal" Best Seller list for the week ending November 20, 2011. "The author was named the City's first PEN Writer-In-Exile when he arrived in Edmonton because his memoir arises above the level of personal history to a saga of Kurdish history under Saddam Hussein's tyranny." Anne Burke, The Prairie Journal "When the author became convinced that his family and he had no future in Iraq, he decided to flee to 'freedom', regardless of difficulties involved. He writes vividly about the human smuggling industry in Turkey, Greece, and many other European countries, fed by Afghans, Iraqis, Pakistanis, and many other people from all over the world. His valiant efforts started in 1988 and ended in 1999 when he managed to obtain an immigration visa for Canada through the UN refugee programme.... It is a heart breaking, well-documented and well-written story that compels the reader to continue reading..., turning page after page." Hrayr Berberoglu, Kurdish Globe, June 4, 2012 [Full article at bit.ly/NAJqzz] "Peter Midgley's edit of J

After tough assignments as a Canadian diplomat abroad, Nicholas Coghlan and his wife Jenny unwind by sailing Bosun Bird, a 27foot sailboat, from Cape Town, South Africa, across the South Atlantic and into the stormy winter waters around Tierra del Fuego, South America. Coghlan recounts earlier adventures in Patagonia when, taking time off from his job as a schoolteacher in Buenos Aires in the late 1970s, he and Jenny explored the region of southern Argentina and Chile over three successive summers. This time, as they negotiate the labyrinth of channels and inlets around snow-covered Fireland, he reflects on voyages of past explorers: Magellan, Cook, Darwin, and others. Sailing enthusiasts and readers of true adventures will want to add Coghlan's world-wise narrative to their libraries. British-Canadian diplomat and wife sail from Cape Town to Cape Horn in their 27-foot boat. Back Cover: Nicholas Coghlan first travelled to Patagonia in 1978 while teaching in Buenos Aires. He and his wife, Jenny, plunged into the culture, politics, and beauty of the bright, fierce, and fickle South. Almost twenty-five years later, after serving on Canadian diplomatic missions in Mexico, Colombia, Sudan, and South Africa, Nick and Jenny head back to Patagonia, this time aboard their 27-foot sailboat, Bosun Bird. Winter in Fireland documents the Coghlans' sailing journey from Cape Town to the stormy winter waters of the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, skirting Tierra del Fuego (Fireland). As they negotiate channels and inlets, battling the whims of the South's wind and waves, Coghlan reflects on the experiences of past adventurers: Chatwin, Cook, Darwin, Magellan, Slocum, and others. Sailing enthusiasts and readers of true adventure will revel in this world-wise narrative. Nicholas Coghlan and his wife, Jenny, sailed around the world on their first boat, Tarka the Otter, between 1985 and 1989. Upon return, he joined the Canadian Foreign Service and has written books about two of his postings: The Saddest Country: On Assignment in Colombia and Far in the Waste Sudan: On Assignment in Africa. Following the adventure described in Winter in Fireland, Coghlan accepted a two-year posting as Deputy High Commissioner in Pakistan. Now, he and Jenny are living aboard Bosun Bird somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. 4 maps, 48 B&W photographs, suggested reading list, index "After tough assignments as a Canadian diplomat, Nicholas Coghlan and his wife Jenny decided to sail from Capetown, South African to Tierra del Fuego, South America as they reflect on the great voyages of Magellan, Cook, and Darwin." Prairie Books Now, Summer 2011 "This engaging travel memoir describes Coghlan and his wife's first trip to Patagonia in 1978, as well as their second voyage 25 years later in which they sailed from Cape Town to the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, skirting Tierra del Fuego to Puerto Montt. Along the way, he relates the experiences of past adventurers including Bruce Chatwin, James Cook, Charles Darwin, Ferdinand Magellan, Allen Gardiner, and Joshua Slocum." Reference and Research Book News "For anyone considering venturing to this part of the world, or simply those that love armchair adventuring, this is a 'must-read.' Not only does Nick Coghlan paint a vivid picture of the tenacity and slight insanity required to attempt winter cruising in this part of the world, he also delves into the rich maritime history that the likes of Chatwin, Cook, Darwin and Magellan left behind. Nick and his wife Jenny, experienced cruisers with a circumnavigation under their belts some 20 years previously, sail from Cape Town to the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, skirting Tierra del Fuego (Fireland). Progress is slow in their 27 foot sailboat, and their days are dictated by constant weather concerns, tricky navigation and the harsh yet beautiful terrain surrounding them. Both enjoy exploring and hiking ashore, giving the reader a full picture of just wha

"When you educate a girl, you educate a nation." -Malawian saying The women of Malawi, like many other women in developing countries, struggle to find their way out of poverty and build a better life for themselves and their families. Weaving a Malawi Sunrise tells the story of Memory Chazeza's quest to get an education and to build a school for young women. Roberta Laurie was one of many who helped Memory realize her vision of seeing young girls become strong and independent women who could care for themselves and their future families. During her time in Malawi, Laurie met several other women, each of whom had a story of her own. Laurie combines these personal accounts with detailed information about the country's underlying social and political context. Readers interested in Africa, global affairs, women's studies, development, and international education will give high marks to Weaving a Malawi Sunrise. One woman's determination to educate Malawian girls and change the future of a nation. 29 B&W photographs, map, notes, index #1 on the Edmonton Journal's Bestsellers list (Edmonton Nonfiction) for the week of November 27, 2015 The Edmonton Journal "Roberta Laurie, a former Rotarian, has written a book that is both heart warming and sobering. On the one hand, we read about young women experiencing life changing educational success. On the other hand, we read about the challenges girls and women experience in rural Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world.... [The book] portrays the development of a courageous, visionary leader.... In addition, the book is rich with the history, culture, geography, and politics of Malawi. This material is deftly presented as the context for the development of [the school].... The emphasis on the stories of Memory, Christie, and the students move the narrative forward and capture and hold readers' interest." [Full article at http://bit.ly/1ZBUFAm] "Most everyone has a place that inspires reflection and contentment: a Paris café, a salmon run on the Miramichi River, your grandmother's kitchen table. Roberta Laurie is an Alberta Rotarian who finds her place at a Malawian school for girls. The result is intriguing and joyful. "Weaving A Malawi Sunrise" never patronizes. Laurie is a delightful writer.... "Weaving A Malawi Sunrise" is kind and eloquent, by turn angry and evocative..." [Full article at https://www.blacklocks.ca/review-one-day-at-the-rotary-club] "...very highly recommended for academic library Contemporary African Studies reference collections..." #5 on the Edmonton Journal's Non-fiction Bestsellers list for the week ofJune 03, 2016. "Laurie's moving book about gender and education in Malawi chronicles the construction of a girls' school through the heroic efforts of educator Memory Chazeza and her Canadian collaborators (including the author). The book's chapters alternate between stories of women the author met in Malawi while working alongside Chazeza, vignettes from Chazeza's life, and essential sociopolitical context about Malawi. With a gripping narrative and touching personal stories, the book is very accessible... Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates." [Full review at http://bit.ly/1NGTES5] Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Abbreviations 1 The Dream Becomes Reality Solstina 2 The Warm Heart of Africa Lucita 3 Education for All Shakira 4 You Should Work Hard in School Agness 5 I Should Be Buried Grace 6 What It Means To Be an Orphan Chifundo 7 Life in the Village Florence 8 Canadians Educating African Girls Audrey 9 A Trip to the Lake Chidothi 10 The CEAG Girls Estel 11 Growing Up Basimati 12 Quietly, Malawi Begins to Starve Henry 13 A Global Perspective Eunice 14 The Dream Takes Shape Patience 15 Atsikana Pa Ulendo Blandina 16 A Moral Universe Notes Index

Paris remains one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It provides a measure of excellence in many areas of culture, and it is itself constantly being measured, both by its lovers and by its critics. This book presents a series of studies on the images of Paris presented by writers (mostly Canadian, from John Glassco to Mavis Gallant to Lola Lemire Tostevin), but also in such other areas as social history and personal memoir. The result is a wide-ranging discussion of the city's history in 20th century literature and thought, which will appeal to all those who love Paris, or who have ever walked on its streets. Governor General's Award-winning poet, literary critic, and flâneur explores and riffs off Paris's literary spirit. Stephen Scobie, flâneur extraordinaire, deftly blends travelogue, memoir, literary criticism, and poetry in The Measure of Paris. He re-presents a "peripatetic speculation" on Paris and those others who have walked and written this "infinite city." Scobie's graceful wanderings into Parisian art, history, architecture, city planning, and flânerie prepare readers for his prolonged meditations on fellow Canadian writers such as Sheila Watson, Mavis Gallant, Gail Scott, Lola Lemire Tostevin, John Glassco, and Gerry Shikatani, and other literary visitors such as Gertrude Stein and Djuna Barnes. Scobie leaves us with personal observations, journal entries and lucid poems to mark and measure his own time there. Seldom do pleasures of form and content align so perfectly. Those who enjoy travel, great writing and great writers, and the city of light will love The Measure of Paris. B&W photographs, index #4 on the Edmonton Journal "Edmonton Top 10" Bestseller list "Stephen Scobie is a prolific poet and literary critic, the author of 23 books, the founding publisher of Longspoon Press, a retired University of Alberta English professor and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In his latest work, Scobie takes the measure of Paris through personal journal entries, poetry, literary theory and criticism as well as through architectural and cultural history. It is the act of moving through the city on foot, however, that ties these disparate approaches together.. The Measure of Paris is also autobiography; it is an expression of personal fascination by a lifelong intellectual. When walking Paris with Scobie, the reader is alternatively dazed by a surfeit of the unfamiliar and exhilarated by the thrill of discovery." Doug Horner, Alberta Views "Measure of Paris by Stephen Scobie is a travelogue, memoir, literary criticism and poetic look at Paris.... Scobie is the ultimate flâneur and his philosophical meanderings through Paris takes readers to sites of art, architecture and transit. His history of the city planning, and the itineraries of Canadian writers in Paris, makes for interesting reading and a different look at a city that is larger than life. His personal musings were my favourite, along with the insights into Haussman¹s influence and transformation of Paris through the large-scale construction of the streets and boulevards that make the Paris we know today." September 26, 2010 [http://www.somisguided.com/weblog/book-review-measure-of-paris-by-stephen-s cobie/ "...Scobie weaves together a book that is part straightforward academic criticism, part anecdotal history and part autobiography." Michael Brown, http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/en/NewsArticles/2010/08/Authorlooksbackat theEnglishdepartmentsrisetoprominence.aspx #7 on the Edmonton Top 10 Non-Fiction List (Edmonton Journal), Aug 15/10 "As Alain De Botton does in The Art of Travel (2002), Scobie offers a personal, evocative meditation on the meaning of place. For him, the place is Paris, a city that has inspired a multitude of literary responses. This one--which is illustrated with romantic, painterly photographs by Eugene Atget (1857-1927)--is especially notable: with a poet's sensibility and eloquence, the author combines literary criticis

A deep-seated questioning of her inherited religion resurfaces when Myrna Kostash chances upon the icon of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. A historical, cultural and spiritual odyssey that begins in Edmonton, ranges around the Balkans, and plunges into a renewed vision of Byzantium in search of the Great Saint of the East delivers the author to an unexpected place-the threshold of her childhood church. An epic work of travel memoir, Prodigal Daughter sings with immediacy and depth, rewarding readers with a profound sense of an adventure they have lived. This book will appeal to readers interested in Ukrainian-Canadian culture, the Eastern Church, and medieval history, as well as to fans of Kostash's bold creative nonfiction. A geographical, historical, and spiritual odyssey by a master of creative nonfiction. The slow recovery from the hubris of Western Civilization must include a reconsideration of Byzantine culture. Prodigal Daughter, with its perspective of personal exploration, adds something new and different. -John-Paul Himka, Professor in History and Classics, University of Alberta Prodigal Daughter: A Journey to Byzantium is the narrative of a woman's journey through the Balkans as she embarks on her quest to find the real Demetrius. A deep-seated questioning of her inherited religion resurfaces when Myrna Kostash chances upon the icon of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, the Great Saint of the East. The discovery leads Kostash on an historical, cultural, and spiritual odyssey that begins in Edmonton, ranges around the Balkans, and plunges into a renewed vision of Byzantium. As we travel with Kostash through the history of the Balkans, we are led to an unexpected place-the threshold of her childhood church. An epic work of travel memoir, Prodigal Daughter sings with immediacy and depth, rewarding readers with a profound sense of an adventure they have lived. This book will appeal to readers interested in Ukrainian-Canadian culture, the Eastern Church and medieval history, as well as to fans of Kostash's bold creative nonfiction. Myrna Kostash's creative nonfiction continues to define and push the limits of the genre. Since the publication of All of Baba's Children in 1977, she has been a strong voice in depicting the Ukrainian-Canadian experience in the West and its roots in European history. Her award-winning memoirs, essays, and other writing, along with her avid participation in the literary community, have garnered Kostash popular and critical acclaim at home and abroad. She lives in Edmonton. Map, bibliography, index "The slow recovery from the hubris of Western Civilization must include a reconsideration of Byzantine culture. Prodigal Daughter, with its perspective of personal exploration adds something new and different." John-Paul Himka, Professor in History and Classics, University of Alberta "Myrna Kostash sets out to discover and explore the roots of Canadian-Ukrainian culture and religious essence in the ancient world of the Byzantine Empire. This brings her to a scholarly investigation of her own intricate linkage and debt to the world of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Prodigal Daughter is at one and the same time an anthropological, cultural, and religious quest on two levels: the personal, autobiographical and the wider sociological and cultural. It is both deeply spiritual and intellectually satisfying." Tom Harpur, author, journalist, TV host "Part spiritual quest, part scholarly inquiry, part travel memoir, Prodigal Daughter is as richly layered as the civilization [Kostash] explores. A self-described secular humanist, Kostash nevertheless has a deep interest in the Orthodox Church, and the result is an intellectually vigorous study.... The journey itself, like many quests that writers undertake for self-examination and reflection, is more important than reaching conclusions.... The award-winning Kostash...weaves all of her themes of religion, Byzantine and Slavic history and the diversity of the Balkans in

How to Clean a Fish describes an extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and the search for home. Offered the opportunity to live in Costa da Caparica for an extended period, Esmeralda Cabral jumped at the chance to return to the country of her birth. Together with her Canadian-born husband, children, and Portuguese Water Dog, Maggie, Cabral makes new and nostalgic discoveries-a labyrinth of cobblestone alleys and beautiful painted tiles, a delicious bica and pastel de nata, a classic fado concert, the gentle ribbing of local fishmongers, a damaging high tide-translating words and emotions for her family along the way. Packed with local cuisine and customs, tales of language barriers and bureaucracy, and threaded with that irresistible need to connect with the culture of our birth, How to Clean a Fish is for readers curious about life in Portugal and for anyone who has moved from one place to another and is seeking their own version of home. "We sat around the large outdoor table for our last big meal. The patio was filled with flowers growing along the wall and spilling out onto the street. The side and back yards were terraced and shaded by an almost impenetrable roof of grape vines. The fragrance of the flowers mixed with the garlic from the kitchen. I breathed in deeply and prepared myself for the delicious food and for another round of simultaneous translation." An extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and the search for home. Map, recipes Sales Tips: • The author's family immigrated from Portugal to Canada in 1969, just as she started elementary school. • How to Clean a Fish chronicles Cabral's return to Portugal with her Canadian-born family and Portuguese Water Dog, Maggie. • It's an easy, engaging read about an extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and colourful local characters. • Coastal mainland Portugal is a wonderful setting and Portugal is a hot tourist destination. • This is an exploration of identity and the theme of "home." • It's a story about the irresistible need to connect with the culture of her birth, and the desire to pass on her heritage to her children. • This book straddles several genres: travelogue, food, and memoir. • There are not many books about Portugal published in English. This is a fine example of Portuguese-North American emigrant memoir-a growing but still underrepresented genre. Audience: • Readers of travel writing, especially those who are interested in Portugal and its culture. • Portuguese Canadians curious about the country of their heritage and ancestral homeland. • People who have lived or aim to live in a foreign country for long periods of time with or without knowledge of the native language. • People who enjoyed Peter Mayle's Provence series, Frances Maye's Tuscany series, and Diana Marcum's The Tenth Island. • "Foodies" and dog lovers will like it too! "These pages are as delicious as the Portuguese food the author so enthusiastically writes about. Any English speaker interested in Portugal will gladly savor Esmeralda Cabral's genuine narratives as a tasty introduction to Portuguese culture's joys, appeals, intricacies, and mysteries. She is well-versed with food, fado, the language, and even soccer, but she has to negotiate how to feel somewhat at home in the complex web of subtle Portuguese ways." Onésimo Teotónio Almeida, Brown University "With the keen eye of a traveller, Esmeralda Cabral serves up close depictions of daily life in Costa da Caparica, including market days, pastéis de nata, and Portuguese hospitality. Told with warmth and layered with Cabral's nuanced reflections on home, belonging, and family, How to Clean a Fish is an enticing memoir that will connect with readers." Meaghan Hackinen, author of South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels "Our easy-going and approachable narrator gives us a charming and entertaining book

A Canadian woman shares her story of traveling to South Africa to teach Boer children in concentration camps following the South African War. As the South African War reached its grueling end in 1902, colonial interests at the highest levels of the British Empire hand-picked teachers from across the Commonwealth to teach the thousands of Boer children living in concentration camps. Highly educated, hardworking, and often opinionated, E. Maud Graham joined the Canadian contingent of forty teachers. Her eyewitness account reveals the complexity of relations and tensions at a controversial period in the histories of both Britain and South Africa. Graham presents a lively historical travel memoir, and the editors have provided rich political and historical context to her narrative in the Introduction and generous annotations. This is a rare primary source for experts in Colonial Studies, Women's Studies, and Canadian, South African, and British Imperial History. Readers with an interest in the South African War will be intrigued by Graham's observations on South African society at the end of the Victorian era.

How to Clean a Fish describes an extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and the search for home. Offered the opportunity to live in Costa da Caparica for an extended period, Esmeralda Cabral jumped at the chance to return to the country of her birth. Together with her Canadian-born husband, children, and Portuguese Water Dog, Maggie, Cabral makes new and nostalgic discoveries-a labyrinth of cobblestone alleys and beautiful painted tiles, a delicious bica and pastel de nata, a classic fado concert, the gentle ribbing of local fishmongers, a damaging high tide-translating words and emotions for her family along the way. Packed with local cuisine and customs, tales of language barriers and bureaucracy, and threaded with that irresistible need to connect with the culture of our birth, How to Clean a Fish is for readers curious about life in Portugal and for anyone who has moved from one place to another and is seeking their own version of home. An extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and the search for home. Map, recipes Sales Tips: • The author's family immigrated from Portugal to Canada in 1969, just as she started elementary school. • How to Clean a Fish chronicles Cabral's return to Portugal with her Canadian-born family and Portuguese Water Dog, Maggie. • It's an easy, engaging read about an extended family stay in Portugal, full of food, adventure, and colourful local characters. • Coastal mainland Portugal is a wonderful setting and Portugal is a hot tourist destination. • This is an exploration of identity and the theme of "home." • It's a story about the irresistible need to connect with the culture of her birth, and the desire to pass on her heritage to her children. • This book straddles several genres: travelogue, food, and memoir. • There are not many books about Portugal published in English. This is a fine example of Portuguese-North American emigrant memoir-a growing but still underrepresented genre. Audience: • Readers of travel writing, especially those who are interested in Portugal and its culture. • Portuguese Canadians curious about the country of their heritage and ancestral homeland. • People who have lived or aim to live in a foreign country for long periods of time with or without knowledge of the native language. • People who enjoyed Peter Mayle's Provence series, Frances Maye's Tuscany series, and Diana Marcum's The Tenth Island. • "Foodies" and dog lovers will like it too! A Word about Saudade Map INVERNO (WINTER) A Harrowing Ride How Did We Get Here? Passport Woes and Flight Plans Around Town The First Big Storm Portuguese Hospitality A Rainy Day in Lisbon Planning to Run Winter Market Days Ashes to Ashes Belonging A Phone Call from Canada PRIMAVERA (SPRING) The Lisbon Mini-Marathon Tracking The Passport Lost in Alfama Fado Concert 25th of April Reflections on Duality Our Guests Matt's Arrival A Weekend in Aldeia Haircut World Cup Friendly Border Services 1 Spring Market Days VERÃO (SUMMER) A Dog's Life Border Services 2 Summer Market Days An Inheritance of Loss Fado Bar Sardine Season Adeus Costa da Caparica A Vacation in the North Good-bye Lisbon Back in Vancouver Recipes Further Reading Acknowledgements "These pages are as delicious as the Portuguese food the author so enthusiastically writes about. Any English speaker interested in Portugal will gladly savor Esmeralda Cabral's genuine narratives as a tasty introduction to Portuguese culture's joys, appeals, intricacies, and mysteries. She is well-versed with food, fado, the language, and even soccer, but she has to negotiate how to feel somewhat at home in the complex web of subtle Portuguese ways." Onésimo Teotónio Almeida, Brown University "With the keen eye of a traveller, Esmeralda Cabral serves up close depictions of daily life in Costa da Caparica, including market days, pastéis de nata, and Portuguese hospitality. Told with

Of Canoes and Crocodiles is a story of adventure in the remote and threatened landscapes of Papua New Guinea. In 2018, Tony Robinson-Smith and his wife Nadya Ladouceur bought dugout canoes and paddled down the Sepik, the country's longest river. Traveling with local guides and staying in their villages, Tony and Nadya ate smoked piranha and sago pancakes, heard tales of river gods and sorcerers, marvelled at rainbow bee-eaters and cat-size flying foxes, sank in a tropical storm, got lost in mosquito-infested swamplands, and hid from pirates in mangroves near the sea. As the narrative follows the bends of the river, Robinson-Smith incorporates into its flow descriptions of crocodile initiation rites, village "big men," the barter system, raskolism, and sing-sings. He reflects on clan loyalty, colonization, Christian missionaries, bride price, the environmental impacts of foreign logging and mining, and the joys and fears of following the current down a long, snaky waterway in a volatile Australasian country. "How far do you want to go?" Jeffrey asks.       The east-flowing Sepik is the longest river on the island of New Guinea. It meets the sea about a thousand kilometres from Green River.       "All the way," I reply.       The two Papuans nod thoughtfully and stroke their beards. I wipe sweat from my eyebrows with my palm. The fan seems more to stir the air than send a refreshing breeze. If it is this hot on the coast, what is it like in the interior?       "Is that possible, do you think?" Nadya asks Jeffrey. Good question. Papua New Guinea is just emerging from the rainy season. Is the water level too high at this time of year?       Jeffrey looks at us carefully for several moments. "It is possible, but, without a motor, it will take a long time. A month, maybe two."       "And," John says, leaning forward, "it will be dangerous. There are pukpuk in the river, and sometimes raskol raid other boat. West Sepik is peaceful. We know the tribes there. But the ones after that, well."       "Yes," says Jeffrey. "You should not go alone."       I nod. We had suspected as much. Yet I still cling to the notion we can simply get a canoe and paddle into an idyll, fishing for our meals, trading with villagers along the way, and riding up on the riverbank each night to pitch our tent. Who would wish to drop everything and go with us as a guide? We know nobody here. Besides, we aren't ready to leave for the jungle. We have almost no kina, only the little we got at the border in exchange for our remaining Indonesian rupiah, and we have no food (there are no stores in Green River, Jeffrey says, indeed none along the Upper Sepik). We should do the sensible thing. Bide our time on the coast, find out more about the Sepik, and prepare ourselves properly.       "Do you have room in the back of your truck for two Canadians?" I ask. Accompanied by local guides, two Canadians paddle dugout canoes down the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, one of the world's great jungle rivers. Accompanied by local guides, two Canadians paddle dugout canoes down the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, one of the world's great jungle rivers. Glossary, map, 20 B&W images and drawings "Tony Robinson-Smith and his wife, Nadya, paddle down the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, traveling through a jungle environment inhabited by villagers and raskols (bandits). The resulting story, filled with anecdotes, entertains and educates. Of Canoes and Crocodiles is a captivating read for armchair adventurers and explorers alike." Ken McGoogan, whose latest book is Shadows of Tyranny "This expedition is filled with humour, suspense, and careful observation, offering a unique glimpse into this lesser-known region-a must-read for travel enthusiasts." Ken Haigh, author of On Foot to Canterbury

Braiding together personal, collective, and historical explorations of what it means to "go west," Amy Kaler offers deep reflections on the meaning of life, middle age, and climate catastrophe. She explores "ruins" of the human history of the North American settler west-faded hamlets, bunkers, fields of cars, bends in the river-that serve as emblems of hope, generational commitment abandoned by contemporary heirs, faith, hubris, even carelessness. These stops are intertwined with reflections on aging, temporality, and change, making the book feel like a deeply satisfying road trip with a thoughtful friend. Moving from meditative to ardent to sobering in compelling and measured ways, Half-Light shimmers with urgency and suggestion. Braiding together personal, collective, and historical explorations of what it means to "go west," Half-Light offers deep reflections on the meaning of life, middle age, and climate catastrophe. Braiding together personal, collective, and historical explorations of what it means to "go west," Half-Light offers deep reflections on the meaning of life, middle age, and climate catastrophe. 20 B&W images Listed in "Most Anticipated: Our 2024 Nonfiction Spring Preview" by 49th Shelf, February 7, 2024 "Amy Kaler is smart and thoughtful and well read, all of which make her a wonderful conversationalist. Above all, Half-Light feels like a deeply satisfying conversation. And great company for the end of the world." Angie Abdou, author of This One Wild Life "Amy Kaler invites the reader to join her on an exploration of aging in a landscape dense with history of occupation and use. She asks us to pay attention to what has already happened to small communities, to dreams and hopes, in order to prepare ourselves for an uncertain future." Theresa Kishkan, author of Blue Portugal and Other Essays # 1 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, July 14, 2024 # 6 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, July 21, 2024 • Prologue • Central Alberta, Somewhere Near Rumsey • Westbound • Retlaw • On Fire for the Rest of My Life • Rossdale Flats and the Bomb Shelter • The West and Its Ruins • Swan Hills • Westbound All Along • Campus Saint-Jean • The End of the World and the Ends of the Earth • Dalum • Orphans • St. Paul • My Seventies • Strathcona Science Park • The Years Before Me, the Years Behind • Newbrook • Ancestors and Descendants • Wostok and Spaca Moskalyk • Home for the Time Being • Packingtown • The Most Important Things Have Already Happened • Holy Transfiguration • Standing Pose • Rowley • "Your Cell Will Teach You" • Newcastle Mine • Time Management • Abbotsford • Keeping Time • Rochfort Bridge • Pigeons • Palliser Triangle • Who Is That? • Bunchberry Meadows • Top Ten Crises • Beaverhill Lake • Epilogue: Eastbound • Acknowledgements • References

All the World's a Mall details a whirlwind world tour in five stops: Edmonton, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Casablanca, chosen because they are home to some of the biggest malls on the planet. Cities within cities, these malls are wonderlands where visitors come from afar to: walk, eat, sleep, watch, swim, ride, photograph, and, of course, shop. With a curious, critical, and sometimes ironic eye, Swiss journalist Rinny Gremaud recounts her travels to and through these monstrous spaces of excess, relaying her conversations with patrons, employees, and executives, and contemplating the effects of globalized commerce. Informative and thoughtful, exhilarating and exhausting, jet-lagged and always air conditioned, All the World's a Mall is a truly memorable, hallucinatory adventure. All the World's a Mall is a memorable, hallucinatory travel adventure to five of the biggest malls in the world. Luise von Flotow is a literary translator and a translation studies professor at the University of Ottawa. Lausanne Edmonton Vancouver Beijing Bangkok Dubai Istanbul Casablanca Lisbon All the World's a Mall is a memorable, hallucinatory travel adventure to five of the biggest malls in the world. "While the apparent goal of the narrative is to learn about the world's largest malls, Gremaud's journey is as much about globalization, income inequality, and the author's own multicultural heritage as it is about shopping." Karen Sternheimer, University of Southern California "We feel Gremaud's exhaustion as she crosses yet another time zone, entering another mega-mall where she is unlikely to see the light of day for hours or breathe fresh air. Her observations of her fellow travellers are razor sharp." Jonathan Kaplansky, literary translator "[West Edmonton Mall] is like an aging celebrity who knows they are obsolete but who keeps muttering on about the vestiges of their glory." "Any tourist can describe Burmese jungles or the snows of Kilimanjaro. It takes talent to write a travel book about shopping malls....All The World's A Mall pops and snaps.... All The World's A Mall is fresh and funny and sad. It is the best thing since free parking." Holly Doan, Blacklock's Reporter, November 18, 2023 [Full review at https://www.blacklocks.ca/book-review-malls-on-earth/]

"Windburned, eyes closed, this: beneath the keening of bergs, a deeper thresh of glaciers calving, creaking with sun. Sound of earth, her bones, wide russet bowl of hips splaying open. From these sere flanks, her desiccating body, what a sea change is born." From the endangered Canadian boreal forest to the environmentally threatened Svalbard archipelago off the coast of Norway, Jenna Butler takes us on a sea voyage that connects continents and traces the impacts of climate change on northern lands. With a conservationist, female gaze, she questions explorer narratives and the mythic draw of the polar North. As a woman who cannot have children, she writes out the internal friction of travelling in Svalbard during the fertile height of the Arctic summer. Blending travelogue and poetic meditation on place, Jenna Butler draws readers to the beauty and power of threatened landscapes, asking why some stories in recorded history are privileged while others speak only from beneath the surface.

"Part spiritual quest, part scholarly inquiry, part travel memoir, Prodigal Daughter is as richly layered as the civilization [Kostash] explores." -The Edmonton Journal A deep-seated questioning of her inherited religion resurfaces when Myrna Kostash chances upon the icon of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. A historical, cultural and spiritual odyssey that begins in Edmonton, ranges around the Balkans, and plunges into a renewed vision of Byzantium in search of the Great Saint of the East delivers the author to an unexpected place-the threshold of her childhood church. An epic work of travel memoir, Prodigal Daughter sings with immediacy and depth, rewarding readers with a profound sense of an adventure they have lived. This book will appeal to readers interested in Ukrainian-Canadian culture, the Eastern Church, and medieval history, as well as to fans of Kostash's bold creative nonfiction. "Prodigal Daughter is at one and the same time an anthropological, cultural, and religious quest on two levels: the personal, autobiographical and the wider sociological and cultural. It is both deeply spiritual and intellectually satisfying." -Tom Harpur, former author, journalist, TV host "Written in lyrical, vibrant prose, Prodigal Daughter is part travelogue and part memoir-a detailed account of findings from her travels to Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia and Macedonia . . . Winner of the 2011 City of Edmonton Prize, Prodigal Daughter is a thought-provoking book." -Prairie Fire Review of Books "It may just be her best book to date . . . a shockingly honest and open articulation of a spiritual quest, one that is rich with possibilities." -Lindy Ledohowski, Canadian Literature

Stories Left in Stone explores the lives, histories, and artistic legacies of Cáceres and Extremadura. Author Troy Nahumko has lived in the old town of Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for over a decade. His journey starts at the Cave of Maltravieso, where prehistoric art stirs a profound curiosity about the city's rich tapestry of past and present. Amid the dazzle of cobbled medieval streets, 12th century Moorish walls, fortified palaces, and 60,000-year-old handprints, Nahumko asks how locals characterize their city and leave their own marks. Through personal narrative and interviews with locals, expats, and experts, he shares sociological, archaeological, and historical insights. Nahumko's storytelling paints a vivid and empathetic portrait of the people and heritage of this lesser-known province of Spain, as he surveys its history, cuisine, and stunning natural beauty. "Living here, I have always felt the close presence of the past. In a place like this each successive wave of peoples have left some sort of palpable mark…. From my window I can see the layers of history, their stories are left in stone." Stories Left in Stone explores Cáceres and Extremadura, Spain, by immersing the reader in local histories, food, art, and conversation. Stories Left in Stone explores Cáceres and Extremadura, Spain, by immersing the reader in local histories, food, art, and conversation. 2 maps, 20 B&W illustrations "Troy Nahumko offers a fresh perspective on Cáceres, unveiling its hidden gems and cultural nuances with the intimacy of a local guide. Combining meticulous research with engaging storytelling, the book is perfect for armchair travelers and anyone curious about Spanish culture and history." Lori A. May, author of The Write Crowd "In this captivating travelogue, Nahumko illuminates the region's history, culture, and contemporary issues. His skepticism and wit add a refreshing authenticity, making this book a must-read for anyone intrigued by Cáceres or eager to venture beyond beaten paths." Javier Torre, University of Denver "A fresh and engaging outsider perspective on life in Spain." Kirkus Reviews, September 2024 • Draft Table of Contents • Chapter 1 Guiding Hands • Chapter 2: Churros for Breakfast • Chapter 3: A Trip to La Vera • Chapter 4: Neighbourization • Chapter 5: The Crack Between Portugal and Spain • Chapter 6: Taking Chances • Chapter 7: Leaps of Faith • Chapter 8: Leave the Lights On • Chapter 9: Barren Squares • Chapter 10: Idol Worship • Chapter 11: Benevolent Spirits • Chapter 12: In the Sierra of the Cat • Chapter 13: A Return to Roots • Chapter 14: Mountain Alchemy • Chapter 15: Alternate Narratives • Chapter 16: Stone Cartoons • Chapter 17: Making Connections

Four years after Therese Greenwood and her husband moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, their new community was shattered by one of the worst wildfires in Canadian history. As the flames approached, they had only minutes to pack, narrowly escaping a fire that would rage for weeks, burn more than 85,000 hectares and force 80,000 people to flee. In this book, she tells her dramatic story, and contemplates mourning, memory, and rebuilding.