Esteemed Canadian author Peter C. Newman recounts the dramatic journey of the United Empire Loyalists—their exodus from America; their resettlement in the wilds of British North America; and their defense of what would prove to be the social and moral foundation of Canada.In 1776; tensions in the British colonies were reaching a fever pitch. The citizenry was divided between those who wished to establish a new republic and those who remained steadfast in their dedication to the British Empire. As the tensions inevitably boiled over into violence; fault lines were exposed as every person was forced to choose a side. Neighbours turned against each other. Families divided. Borders were redrawn. The conflict was long and bloody; and no side emerged unscathed. But there is one story that is often overlooked in the American Revolutionary canon. When the smoke from the battles had settled; tens of thousands of individuals who had remained loyal to the crown in the conflict found themselves without a home to return to. Destitute; distraught; and ostracized—or downright terrorized—by their former citizens; these Loyalists turned to the only place they had left to go: north. The open land of British North America presented the Loyalists with an opportunity to establish a new community distinct from the new American republic. But the journey to their new homes was far from easy. Beset by dangers at every turn—from starvation to natural disaster to armed conflict—the Loyalists migrated towards the promise of a new future. Their sacrifices set the groundwork for a country that would be completely unlike any other. Neither fully American nor truly British; the Loyalists established a worldview entirely of their own making; one that valued steady; peaceful; and pragmatic change over radical revolution. The Loyalists toiled tirelessly to make their dream a reality. And as the War of 1812 dawned; they proved they were willing to defend it with their very lives. In Hostages to Fortune; Peter C. Newman recounts the expulsion and migration of these brave Loyalists. In his inimitable style; Newman shines a light on the people; places; and events that set the stage for modern Canada.
#979744 in Books imusti 2010-12-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 4.76 x .59 x 6.73l; .35 #File Name: 1445600862128 pagesAmberley Publishing
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good overview; needs more original paint schemesBy Johnny L.A.A nice little pocket reference on the Cessna 172. Having read it through; I now enjoy thumbing through it and reminding myself of interesting developments in the series. My one complaint is that many of older models shown in the book have been repainted in more modern paint schemes. My impression is that many of the photos are holiday snaps that the author grabbed in his travels. That is; it seems he photographed examples of various models as he came upon them; rather than seeking the best examples for illustration. This is understandable; as many owners are not interested in originality; and finding original or restored examples; travelling to them; and photographing them would be very expensive. Local to me; N78797 is a nicely restored 1968 K-model; N84823 is a nicely-restored 1970 K-model (both with original paint schemes); and a gleaming Cessna 170 in its original scheme of polished aluminium and blue is a frequent visitor to local fly-ins. Restored or original aircraft are out there; and would have been better choices for an overview of the type.The lack of exemplars of how these aircraft appeared as the left the factory notwithstanding; this pocket history does provide ample photographs of the models from the beginning to the present. The four-star rating; instead of five-star; is due solely to my personal preference to see the aircraft as they were. The text is informative; and pointed out details that I had not noticed before.If you're a fan of the Cessna 172; you must have this book in your library.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Bart MarculesAs Described.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A true pocket history of the Cessna 172By Mike LittleThis is a surprisingly comprehensive view of the Cessna 172. It begins with the design's roots in the two-seat postwar Cessna 120/140 series and continues to models being being produced today; covering the 170; 175 and the T-41 along the way. STOL; seaplane; alternative powerplant and tailwheel conversions are discussed; including a little-known; experimental "twin-pac" installation that would have made it a twin-engined airplane! The author also goes into such subjects as the handling qualities; safety record and production facilities of the aircraft; and includes a chapter on the evolution of the cockpit. It is illustrated with many high-quality photos; most of them in color; of each version discussed. This is contained in a truly pocket-sized package; I read it over several days by carrying it in my overcoat and pulling it out whenever boredom threatened; e.g. waiting for meetings to start. The limitation imposed by this convenience is my only minor criticism of the book - it would have been nice to have a few more details here and there; including line drawings of certain model differences. All told; though; it is an excellent reference on a popular airplane; and I strongly recommend it for anyone interested in aviation.
