Evangeline for Young Readers
Artist: Patsy MacKinnonPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$17.95Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem, Evangeline, tells the story of two young people deported from beautiful Acadie just before they are to be married and their search for each other that lasts the rest of their lives. First published in 1847, the poem has been important to Acadian identity ever since.
In Evangeline for Young Readers, the tragic story of Evangeline and Gabriel’s Deportation is recounted to a new generation. In simple prose true to Longfellow’s poem, Hélène Boudreau describes the utopian village of Grand-Pré where Evangeline grows up, the traumatizing Deportation, and Evangeline’s relentless search across America for her true love. Patsy MacKinnon’s stunning illustrations bring the story to life in full colour.
Evangeline for Young Readers is a vital interpretation for children of Longfellow’s classic.
Acadians of Nova Scotia
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$22.95The first work devoted exclusively to Acadians in Nova Scotia, this book presents a thorough study of Acadian history from the earliest days of French settlement to present-day Acadian communities. Authors Sally Ross and Alphonse Deveau draw on original seventeenth-century texts, as well as up-to-date sources. They examine the history of the Expulsion–the Grand Dérangement–that began in 1755, and trace the return of the Acadians and their resettlement in seven areas of the province. The authors highlight the distinct features that have developed within these different regions of Nova Scotia and discuss the choices and challenges faced by Acadians today: the linguistic assimilation and preservation of a distinct culture against pressures from the mainstream culture.
Acadians of Nova Scotia won the 1993 Dartmouth Book Award for non-fiction and the 1993 Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Prize for non-fiction.
Les Acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95Premier ouvrage portant exclusivement sur le sujet, Les Acadiens de la Nouvelle-Ècosse, hier et aujourd’hui trace un portrait à la fois historique et actuel de la culture acadienne de la Nouvelle-Ècosse. Si l’on connaît bien le premier siècle et demi d’existence de l’Acadie néo-écossaise, on en savait beaucoup moins sur le retour des déportés dans leur terre natale et leur difficile réadaptation aux nouvelles conditions de vie. Cette étude vient combler ce vide. Ainsi, elle retrace les grandes lignes du développement des sept régions acadiennes d’après la Déportation et expose les particularités qui les unissent. Elle met aussi en lumière les choix et les défis qui se sont poses aux Acadiens de la Nouvelle-Ècosse au cours du 20e siècle, particulièrement depuis les années 1960. L’édition originale anglaise de cette étude a mérité le City of Dartmouth Book Award et le Evelyn Richardson Memorial Literary Award.
Deportation of the Acadians
Publisher: Societe de Grand-Pre$5.95A condensed account of the deportation of the Acadians.
Dykes & Aboiteaux
Publisher: Societe de Grand-Pre$5.95Sally Ross studied in France and taught the history and culture of French Canada for ten years and now works as an author, translator, and consultant.
The Lookout Tree A Family’s Escape from the Acadian Deportation
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$11.95The Acadian Deportation is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Fidèle, in the new English version of this Hackmatack Award-winning novel by author Diane Carmel Léger. The Lookout Tree, an English translation of the Acadian bestseller La butte à Pétard, is a testament to the will of the Acadian people, determined to not only survive the two decades of the Deportation, but reunite and rebuild afterward.
Évangéline The Many Identities of a Literary Icon
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$34.95Sociologist Joseph Yvon Thériault presents three versions of the literary heroine: Évangéline the Acadian, Évangéline the Canadian, and Évangéline the American. Can these three distinct identities be merged, and will survive the effects of globalization?
CBC most anticipated non-fiction of Spring 2021
Fiddles and Spoons (pb)
$14.95Cecile Souris and her mouse family live under the floorboards of a little Acadian house in Grand Pré, owned by the Dubois family. The house—above and below the floor—is full of good food, laughter, and wonderful music, made with fiddles and spoons. But one day soldiers arrive and take the Dubois family—and the Souris family with them—far away from Grand Pré. Join them on an unforgettable journey in this heartwarming tale of courage, love, and joy as the Acadians continue to celebrate life with fiddles and spoons!
This beloved story is now available in a second edition with a new design, including some new illustrations.
Pantry and Palate Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$34.95In Pantry and Palate, journalist Simon Thibault explores his Acadian roots by scouring old family recipes, ladies’ auxiliary cookbooks, and folk wisdom for 50 of the best-loved recipes of Acadians past and present. Recipes run the gamut from Acadian staples such as potato pancakes called Fring Frangs, Rappie Pie, Chicken Fricot, and various forms of meat pies; old-fashioned foodways, such as how to render your own lard, and make the most of out a pig’s head; and sumptuous sweets take the form of Rhubarb Custard Pie or a simple Molasses Cake. Thibault not only discovers the past lives of his immediate and extended family, but their larders as well.
Including essays celebrating the stories behind the recipes, a foreword by bestselling author Naomi Duguid (Taste of Persia), and photos by noted food photographer Noah Fecks (The Up South Cookbook), Pantry and Palate is magnifique from page to plate.
Evangeline
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$9.95The epic poem Evangeline is a superb example of romantic poetry and a masterpiece of world literature. The publication of Evangeline represented a “milestone in the awakening of the collective consciousness of the Acadian people. By lifting Acadie out of the forgotten past, Longfellow honoured the courage and tenacity of the Acadians.” This new edition of the classic text includes a critical introduction from scholars Sally Ross and Barbara LeBlanc.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) was an American poet. Sally Ross and Barbara LeBlanc are both Acadian scholars and authors living and working in Nova Scotia.
Deportation of the Prince Edward Island Acadians
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$16.95When the fortress of Louisbourg fell to the British in 1758, the Acadians of Prince Edward Island (then known as Île Saint-Jean) were doomed to a horrible fate—deportation from their homes to an unknown land thousands of kilometres away. Shipwrecks and disease took a terrible toll during the voyage to France, and hundreds of the approximately three thousand deportees lost their lives.
Earle Lockerby’s meticulously researched account sheds new light on this tragic event, from its implementation to the experiences of the Acadians who eluded British troops and escaped to the mainland, to the deportees’ arrival in Europe. Featuring excerpts from original documents and letters, Deportation of the Prince Edward Island Acadians is an important record of this neglected chapter in the saga of the Acadian people.
Magic Rug Of Grand-Pré
$10.95Rose-Marie and Constant go on a night-time quest with Johnny à Minou, the magic mailman, to find the twelve strands of wool to complete the hooked rug of Grand-Pré. Soaring the stars, they visit the four corners of Acadie. Each stop on their journey brings them closer to their Acadian ancestors.
Evangeline
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$10.95La Nouvelle-Écosse est hantée par son passé—l’Acadie qui fut établie en 1605. Longfellow décrit magnifiquement la beauté des lieux qui devinrent le “Pays d’Évangéline,” dans son conte d’amants qui furent séparés pendant la déportation des Acadiens en 1755; une des oeuvres les plus aimées de la littérature canadienne. Personne ne peut lire l’histoire de Grand Pré sans avoir le désir de visiter l’Acadie; personne ne peut visiter l’Acadie sans être fasciné par son histoire.
Grand-Pré: Heart of Acadia
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$24.95A.J.B. (John) Johnson, a historian with Parks Canada, has published extensively, on French colonial Louisbourg in particular. W.P. (Wayne) Kerr, an interpretation specialist with Parks Canada, has over seen the development of numerous exhibits and projects in Atlantic Canada
A Land of Discord Always
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95From 1604 to 1755, the Acadian settlers of present-day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the focus of political, economic, and military rivalries between France and Britain. Their stubborn nonconformity and political neutrality baffled and infuriated both European powers fighting for the upper hand. Finally, Britain’s drastic solution was to expel them from their homes.
Little his been published about early Acadia (which included much of the Maine coast and the Maritimes) and the origins of the Acadians. This rich story, peopled with memorable men and women whose lives make fascinating reading, is skillfully chronicled by retired attorney and historical writer, Charles Mahaffie.
Evangeline, Illustrated (French)
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$18.95En suivant l’odyssée du peuple acadien, déporté de la Nouvelle-Écosse entre 1755 et 1763, le poète Henry Wadsworth Longfellow a immortalisé l’Acadie. Son célèbre poème Évangeline raconte l’histoire émouvante d’Évangéline et de Gabriel, jeunes amoureux séparés au moment de la déportation des Acadiens de Grand-Pré. Évangéline parcourt l’Amérique à la recherche de son bien-aimé et, après des années d’errance, elle le trouve sur son lit de mort. Publié en 1847 et traduit par, Pamphile LeMay en 1865, Évangéline connaît un succès international retentissant. Depuis plus d’un siècle et demi, le courage et la fidélité de l’héroïne de Longfellow ne cessent de nous émouvoir. Agrémentée d’illustrations en coulers et en noir et blanc ainsi que d’une excellente introduction de Sally Ross et Barbara LeBlanc, cette belle edition d’Évangéline saura charmer aussi bien les lecteurs et les lectrices qui connaissent déjà le poème que ceux et celles qui le découvrent pour la première fois.
Gentlemen & Jesuits Glory and Adventure in the Early Days of Acadia
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95This is the definitive account of early life in Acadia. The reprint of this outstanding book (originally published by the University of Toronto Press in 1986) coincides with the resurgence of interest in Acadian culture.
The Electric City
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$21.95This is the true story of the Stehelins, a prestigious family from Normandy, France, who came to Nova Scotia in the early twentieth century to carve out a new life in the wilderness. The family’s achievements were legendary–they built their own railway and installed their own electricity to the incredulity of all those around. Their amazing tale of creating an “electric city” in the wilds of Nova Scotia is the stuff of romance, challenge, and intrigue.
Jeanne Dugas of Acadia
Publisher: Cape Breton University Press$14.95Born of Acadian parents at Louisbourg, Jeanne Dugas (1731-1817) and her husband Pierre Bois were among the founding families of the Acadian village of Chéticamp in 1785. Descended from one of the three most prominent families in Acadia, Jeanne Dugas and her family lived for more than thirty years under the threat of capture and deportation by the British militia and attacks by pirates and privateers.
In this historical fiction, we follow Jeanne Dugas’s trials and tribulations from Louisbourg to Grand Pré (NS), to Port Toulouse and Mira (Cape Breton), Île-Saint-Jean (PEI), Remshic (NS), Restigouche (NB) and back again – often more than once. Finally captured by the British militia, she and her family were imprisoned for three years on George’s Island, where three of her four children died. When released, they sought refuge on Île Madame (Cape Breton) and finally to the area now known as Chéticamp.
A Boy From Acadie Roméo Leblanc’s Journey to Rideau Hall
Artist: Maurice CormierPublisher: Bouton d'or Acadie$19.95Young Roméo LeBlanc, from Cormier Cove, New Brunswick, did not expect that one day, thanks to his family and sisters, he would have the chance to go to high school and university, become a history teacher, then a journalist, and finally a politician, climbing up the ladder to the highest position! Nevertheless, he stayed modest and kept his great sense of humour all his life.
Illustrated History of the Acadians of Prince Edward Island
Publisher: Acorn Press$19.95Written for the general reader, this book by Georges Arsenault provides an overview of the three hundred years of French and Acadian presence on Prince Edward Island. The author describes the first settlements established on the Island by France, the deportation of the Acadian inhabitants in 1758, and their resettlement on the Island. He also looks at the evolution of the economy, the role of the Catholic Church, French-language education, and the struggles to ensure a vibrant French culture in the Acadian communities throughout the Island.
Acadian Traditions on Candlemas Day Candles, Pancakes and House Visits
Publisher: Acorn Press$19.95Georges Arsenault’s latest edition to the Acadian Traditions series Most English-speaking people just associate the 2nd of February, or Groundhog Day, with superstitions related to the weather. In Acadian communities, however, it was known as Candlemas Day and at one time was an important religious and social festivity. Pancakes were the symbolic food of choice. In many villages, young Acadians went from door-to-door collecting food for a communal feast or to give to the poor. This book by Georges Arsenault enables us to discover a festivity rich in traditions and a significant part of the cultural heritage of Acadians everywhere.
Acadian Mi-Carême
Publisher: Acorn Press$19.95The rich traditions associated with Mi-Car’me or Mid-Lent are firmly anchored in the folkways of Acadian communities. To celebrate Mi-Car’me, people visited each other’s homes dressed up in masks and costumes. In the midst of the merrymaking, a mysterious character called the Mi-Car’me gave candies to little children and sometimes even delivered babies. But this strange individual scared many young Acadians because they feared he would take them away if they misbehaved.
Acadian Christmas Traditions
Publisher: Acorn Press$19.95Based on written sources and interviews with Acadians throughout the Maritimes, Acadian Christmas Traditions offers a fascinating look at the evolution of Christmas. This very readable book shows how customs, both spiritual and secular, take hold in families, in villages, and in a culture as a whole. Georges Arsenault, the well-known historian and folklorist, examines all the aspects of the feast of Christmas, from midnight mass to holiday foods. As he chronicles the cultural changes that have taken place over the centuries, he proves that Acadian Christmas today is the result of a wonderful blending of old, new, and borrowed traditions.
Jean Pierre Roma
Publisher: Acorn Press$9.95During the four years poet Jill MacLean lived in Prince Edward Island, she researched Jean Pierre Roma’s settlement at Trois Rivières. Her first collection, The Brevity of Red, was published in 2003. She now lives in Bedford, Nova Scotia.
Acadia
Publisher: Pottersfield Press$22.95” a rollicking read about the escapades of those larger-than-life characters who dominated the early days of European thirst for dominance in the New World…” Atlantic Books Today Acadia is based on the true story of the blood feud that founded the French colony and the two very different married couples at the centre of it.
Acadian Star
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$10.95The Acadian Star competition is the biggest thing to ever happen in Meg Gallant’s small Cape Breton town. Meg dreams of performing onstage with her best friend Nève. If they’re lucky, they might even make it to the finals in Halifax. But Meg’s weird old aunt, Tante Perle, has been acting stranger and stranger—and just before the finale of the competition, she whisks Meg away from everything she knows. Meg suddenly finds herself trapped in the time of the tragic Acadian Deportation—and she has to choose between escaping to her own time and saving a girl who looks remarkably like Neve. Why is she trapped in the eighteenth century? Will she be able to save this stranger, so quickly becoming a friend? And where does Tante Perle fit in with all this?
This remarkable book for middle readers introduces us to contemporary Acadian characters, and also offers a young girl’s perspective on the Acadian Deportation.Hélène Boudreau is an Acadian writer and artist. A native of Isle Madame, Nova Scotia, she writes fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults from her home in Markham, Ontario. This is her first novel.
Grand-Pré: Coeur de L’Acadie
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$16.95Grand-Pré est un toponyme très évocateur, non seulement au Canada, mais partout dans le monde. Les événements qui se déroulent dans ce village acadien vers la fin de l’été et durant l’automne 1755 occupent une place importante dans l’histoire de l’Amérique du Nord.
A Song for Acadia
Artist: Ron BergPublisher: Nimbus Publishing$7.95When his aging father falls ill, Timothy Parsons of Boston is sent to live with his Acadian relatives in Nova Scotia. The language is new and the farm work hard, but the kind ways of the merry-hearted Acadians put him at ease, and soon Timothy is singing songs in French and building aboiteau alongside his cousins. But trouble is on the horizon: the French and the English are at war, and Acadia is caught in the middle. When the governor signs the deportation orders, Timothy must decide whether to stay with his Acadian family and face an uncertain future, or return to the safety and comfort of his life in Boston.
Evangeline, Illustrated (English) A Tale of Acadie
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$19.95The famous poem with a historical introduction and numerous color and black and white illustrations. First published in 1847, Evangeline is a classic of romantic literature that tells the epic story of a young Acadian couple who are separated during the tragic Acadian expulsion of 1755.
Three Hills Home
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing$32.95Eulalie’s life seems laid out ahead of her, as does Corporal Cully Robin’s, but an alternate plot is about to change their lives irrevocably. With the looming war between France and England, the Governor of Nova Scotia removes the Acadian people from the land they’ve lived on for generations and disperses them throughout the colonies to the south. Suddenly, even the simplest expectations are thrown into doubt as they struggle to survive, love and find their way home in the face of obstacles they could never have imagined.
