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Sean T. Cadigan

Newfoundland and Labrador: A History Hardcover – April 11, 2009

by Sean Cadigan (Author)

11 ratings

Part of: The Canada 150 Collection (20 books)

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Published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador joining Canada, Sean T. Cadigan has written the book that will surely become the definitive history of one of North America's most distinct and beautiful regions. The site of the first European settlement by Vikings one thousand years ago, a former colony of England, and known at various times as Terra Nova and Newfoundland until its official name change to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001, this easternmost point of the continent has had a fascinating history in part because of its long-held position as the gateway between North America and Europe. Examining the region from prehistoric times to the present, Newfoundland and Labrador is not only a comprehensive history of the province, but an illuminating portrait of the Atlantic world and European colonisation of the Americas.

Cadigan comprehensively details everything from the first European settlements, the displacement and extinction of the indigenous Beothuk by European settlers, the conflicts between settlers and imperial governance, to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's near annihilation at the Battle of the Somme, the rise of Newfoundland nationalism, Joey Smallwood's case for confederation, and the modernization and economic disappointments instigated by joining Canada. Paying particular attention to the ways in which Newfoundland and Labrador's history has been shaped by its environment, this study considers how natural resources such as the Grand Banks, the disappearance of cod, and off-shore oil have affected the region and its inhabitants.

Richly detailed, compelling, and written in an engaging and accessible style, Newfoundland and Labrador brings the rich and vibrant history of this remarkably interesting region to life.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Publication date

April 11, 2009
Dimensions

5.95 x 0.69 x 8.83 inches
ISBN-10

0802044654
ISBN-13

978-0802044655
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Editorial Reviews

Review

‘This is a superb survey of the history of the region that became known as Newfoundland and Labrador, from the arrival of its first residents to the present. Sean T. Cadigan understands the enormous difficulties of surviving given the limited opportunities and fragile ecosystems available for humans in Newfoundland and Labrador and approaches the histories of the region?s various peoples with profound respect. This book is, in its conception, style, and humility, a gift to the people who have made the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.’ (Rusty Bittermann, Department of History, St Thomas University)

‘Newfoundland & Labrador is an excellent survey and provocative interpretation of the province's history… A remarkable book which deserves wide readership and discussion in the province and beyond.’ (Duff Sutherland: Labour/leTravail, vol 67: Spring2011)

‘Cadigan';s meticulous account of Newfoundland's struggles within the Canadian federation, from the calamitous land-based economic experiments to the demise of the iconic fishery, is both thorough and comprehensive. What is unique here is how Cadigan ties the modern history of Newfoundland to previous eras through the rise, in the 1970s.’ (Jason Blake: Central European Journal of Canadian Studies; vol 8:2011)

From the Back Cover

'This is a superb survey of the history of the region that became known as Newfoundland and Labrador, from the arrival of its first residents to the present. Sean T. Cadigan understands the enormous difficulties of surviving from the limited opportunities and fragile ecosystems available for humans in Newfoundland and Labrador and approaches the histories of the region's various peoples with profound respect. This book is in its conception, style, and humility, a gift to the people who have made the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.'

-Rusty Bittermann, Department of History, St. Thomas University

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division; 0 edition (April 11, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802044654
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802044655
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.76 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.95 x 0.69 x 8.83 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #16,062,326 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #19,698 in Canadian History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
11 ratings

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Gaston

a great educational book which contains very rare, not in school books information, about Canadas most recently added Province

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2014

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In this book,the Author relates some 400 years of history in the convoluted formation of first, a Colony,then a Self- Governed Unit of England and finally, a Confederation of Canada Member Province. It describes the complexities of survival on a sea based island endowded with several types of natural resources attracting several Colonizing countries resulting on very complex governments subjected to various political, languages and religions while officially under the British realm. The book introduces numerous characters of the political and the religious clans in their efforts to dominate the lower class of the fisher industry. It recalls the early days of English power, the attempted domination of the Irish clergy, the infiltration of the French and the United States and the many changes in ways of life depending on multiple of leaders from various backgrounds always poised to enhance the life styles and economics of the island. There is also the management of the geographically annexed Labrador land with its different types of aboriginals backgrounds who are being inserted in the white folks way of life. There is the usual self admitted agile and numerous group of politicians who either promote societal advances or start failed programs leading to new social/financial crisis. This is a really rare information which was not available to the nowadays society of adults in NA when they attended schools bacause NL was A British endeavour thus not a part of Canada until 1949. It is consequently very strategic readings for those interrested in the history of the continents after Pangee and the big bang.

One person found this helpful

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Wayne

In depth history on NL

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2012

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This is a very in depth review on the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. This was a very detailed report which starts with the Continental shifts and and the first natives right up to modern day. I enjoyed the discussions on the Beothic Indians and their history and, ultimately, their extinction. A bit of a sad story in a way.

Also, I now see how modern Newfies tend to be a migratory worker (leaving the province for work in Ontario and Alberta) as that's what they have been throughout history relating back to the migratory fishery.

I liked this book very much and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Newfoundland, Canadian, and British history.

One person found this helpful

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Ron Glover

SCHOLARLY

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017

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A scholarly work, it's informative but slow and plodding.

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Craig Rowland

Densely packed with detail; a scholar's history

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018

Newfoundland and Labrador: A History by Sean T. Cadigan was a long and heavy read. To call it extremely detailed does not do it justice. Cadigan cited from dozens of sources and had twenty-two pages of endnotes. That number might not seem long in itself, but the pages in this large-format paperback were densely packed with minimal spacing between the lines. It certainly felt like a much longer read than its 297 pages. That will explain why it took me exactly four weeks to read this book, however I did take it with me on a thirteen-day vacation to the Canadian west so I was not reading it daily. That said, for the most inclusive history of the island of Newfoundland and mainland of Labrador, I recommend Cadigan's History.

My high school history classes did not cover anything about Newfoundland except its entrance into Confederation. Cadigan covered the indigenous peoples, the first European contacts and migration and the varying states of government that brought Newfoundland from a British colony to Newfoundland and Labrador as a province of Canada. A major part in the modern history of Newfoundland are the grandiose schemes to industrialize the island interior, or to seek viable alternatives to the fishing industry. The island is nicknamed "the rock" for a good reason, as I saw for myself when I flew to St. John's in 2012. Almost a third of the land surface of the island has no soil. Newfoundland is home to little arable land and thus agriculture is not a viable option for producing self-sufficiency. It does not sustain an internal population because of this. Check out a map; all of Newfoundland's settlements are on the coast or have a direct outlet to the sea.

As fish stocks depleted, especially cod, the colony looked towards developing other industries. Forestry, mining, drilling for oil and energy production were among the more successful schemes. The province's first premier, Joey Smallwood, tried to modernize both the island and Labrador yet his wasteful (and often self-serving) plans to make Newfoundland an eastern industrial powerhouse ruined his reputation. He became a whipping boy for all of Newfoundland's woes, yet his schemes were nothing new. Even in colonial days massive (and failing) landward developments predated Confederation.

I liked Cadigan's punny fishy writing spread over two pages in the middle of the book. In what was otherwise a heavy read, packed with information in every line yet not boring, I was nonetheless impressed to laugh during the following lines:

"In his struggle with Bond during the general election of 1908, Morris had angled for the support of fishing people and the FPU by promising better fisheries reform and an old-age pension scheme. However, Morris's failure to establish government-controlled, mandatory regulation of salt-fish marketing and his refusal to enforce regulations against commercial cutting on a three-mile-deep strip of coastal forests reserved for use in the fishery alienated Coaker and the FPU. Through 1911, Morris continued to fish for FPU support, using the bait of a limited number of pensions worth $50 per year available only to men over the age of 75."

I would not recommend this book as pleasure reading. It was far too deep to cuddle into yet excellent as an academic study, teeming with details.

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Top reviews from other countries

R. Sexton

Good modern history of NL

Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

The author uses a political economy approach as well as the role of religion to look at the history of NL. I throughly enjoyed it. It was an easy read. The book cumulates in a last chapter entitled "Not a Nation" which leads me to believe that the author had an agenda when writing this book.

One person found this helpful

Brad Hillier

While i really enjoy this book the author clearly has a political agenda ...

Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

I agree with the other review. While i really enjoy this book the author clearly has a political agenda in regards to nationalist in newfoundland - which is dead in my opinion, so the author can rest easy.

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Newfoundland and Labrador: A History Hardcover – April 11, 2009

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