Adventure Guide to New Brunswick & Prince Island  •  Barbara Radcliffe Rogers  •  Stillman Rogers GUIDEBOOK •  2001 •  PAPER  • 360 PAGES A practical guide to outdoor activities and travel in New Brunswick and PEI, featuring maps and hundreds of listings of attractions. (CND187, $16.95)
Atlantic Canada, A Region in the Making  •  Margaret Conrad  •  James Hiller HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES A wide-ranging, illustrated history of the Atlantic provinces written by two Canadian academics. (CND180, $35.00)
Atlas of Newfoundland & Labrador  •  Mem U Nfld Dept Geog REFERENCE •  1992 •  HARD COVER  • 78 PAGES This in-depth, oversize atlas presents the demographics, resources, economy and geography of Newfoundland. It's an excellent overview -- and highly recommended for its colorful presentation of detailed statistical information. (NFL04, $49.95)
Baltimore's Mansion  •  Wayne Johnston BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2001 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Don't let the title fool you, this book is not set in Maryland. Rather, it takes place on the Avalon Peninsula located at a remote tip of Newfoundland, where Lord Baltimore founded a colony. Wayne Johnston, whose novel "Colony of Unrequited Dreams" was a humorous and observant portrait of the Atlantic province, turns to nonfiction for this effort, a history of his young life and the story of his family in Newfoundland. (NFL11, $13.00)
Barometer Rising  •  Hugh MacLennan  •  Alistair MacLeod LITERATURE •  1989 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES An engaging novel of the 1917 Halifax Explosion. Originally published in 1941, it highlights the crucial role Nova Scotia played in the First World War. (CND195, $10.95)
The Bay of Love and Sorrows  •  David Richards LITERATURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 320 PAGES An intense, gritty tale of murder, drug deals, and revenge set in rural Nova Scotia in the 1970s. (CND194, $24.95)
Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw, Travels in Search of Canada  •  Will Ferguson TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 368 PAGES In these loosely connected travel essays, Ferguson (Why I Hate Canadians) writes of odd, amusing and characteristic touchstones of Canadian history from the west coast, across the prairies to Churchill and its famous polar bears and onto Viking ruins at L'Anse aux Meadows. In the opening chapters he skewers Victoria and its British pretensions, life in the remote north of Alberta, and the titular town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he reluctantly visits a health spa. (CND236, $14.95)
The Big Year, A Tale Of Man, Nature, And Fowl Obsession  •  Mark Obmascik NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES Obmascik, himself an over-the-edge birder, recounts with glee and page-turning detail the race to see the most birds in North America in a year, a quest that has his three competitors on the road at a moments notice, heading out in the middle of the night, and combing the beaches. As he so winningly demonstrates, these people are driven. (BRD29, $14.00)
The Bird Artist  •  Howard Norman LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES Memorably set in a remote coastal village in 1911, this vivid book is the tale of an odd local man who murdered the lighthouse keeper. A short novel, haunting in its simplicity, it's as much about Newfoundland as it is about human character and motivation. (NFL06, $15.00)
Birds in Fall  •  Brad Kessler LITERATURE •  2006 •  HARD COVER  • 240 PAGES (CND248, $24.00)
The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife  •  Christopher W. Leahy  •  Gordon Morrison NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 1072 PAGES A handsome, fully illustrated survey of the birds of North America, organized A to Z, covering birds, bird biology, conservation and birdwatching. Published in cooperation with the American Birding Association. (NAM21, $19.95)
The Boat Who Wouldn't Float  •  Farley Mowat BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1989 •  PAPER  • 208 PAGES A Canadian national treasure, Mowat has captured the spirit and humor of Atlantic Canada in his 25 novels and memoirs. This laugh-out-loud book tells of his determination to refurbish and sail a clunky old sailboat in the not-always-forgiving waters of Newfoundland. It's quite a tale. Take your Dramamine before reading this book. (NFL02, $5.99)
Canada Map  •  Map Art Maps MAP A folded, color map of all Canada at a scale of 1:4,500,000. It's better than most, and at an unbeatable price. (CND15, $4.95)
Canada: A People's History, Volume 1  •  Don Gillmor  •  Pierre Turgeon HISTORY •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 320 PAGES An illustrated history of Canada from a distinctly Canadian perspective, soliciting expert accounts of seminal events. This, the first of two volumes, covers from early exploration to the dawn of the industrial age in the late 19th century. Volume 2 is also available (CND161). (CND160, $60.00)
Canada: A People's History, Volume 2  •  Don Gillmor  •  Pierre Turgeon HISTORY •  2002 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES An illustrated history of Canada from a distinctly Canadian perspective, soliciting expert accounts of seminal events. This, the second of two volumes, covers from the late 19th century to today. Volume 1 is also available (CND160). (CND161, $60.00)
Cape Breton Highlands National Park  •  Clarence Barrett GUIDEBOOK •  2003 •  PAPER A natural history and visitor's guide by author and photographer Clarence Barrett. (CND211, $16.95)
Cape Breton Road  •  D.R. MacDonald LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES In this first novel from an award-winning short story writer, a young car thief from Boston is sent to live with his uncle on Cape Breton Island in hopes it will curb his criminal behavior. (CND192, $17.00)
Castles of the North, Canda's Grand Hotels  •  Barbara Chisholm ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 304 PAGES A celebration of extravagant hotels throughout Canada, including Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac, Toronto's Royal York and Banff Springs. Illustrated with 400 full-color photographs. (CND120, $29.95)
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams  •  Wayne Johnston LITERATURE •  1999 •  PAPER  • 562 PAGES The fictional biography of a minor character who was the father of the confederation of Newfoundland. A hilarious, splendidly entertaining account of a strange man in an even stranger place. This novel takes its power not from the bare facts of a not-so-dramatic life, but instead from the powerful setting and turbulent relationship between the protagonist, Joe Smallwood, and a powerful woman -- the alcoholic, larger-than-life Shelagh Fielding -- who contributes the hilarious excerpts from a condensed history of Newfoundland that are interspersed throughout the novel. (NFL08, $15.95)
Exploring Nova Scotia  •  Alison Scott  •  Dale Dunlop GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 312 PAGES The revised and updated fifth edition of this popular guide features unique information on attractions, leisure activities, over 400 hidden adventures and accommodations and dining in the province. (CND247, $16.95)
Fall on your Knees  •  Ann-Marie MacDonald LITERATURE •  1998 •  PAPER  • 508 PAGES An epic novel following the lives of a Lebanese-Canadian family from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia during the first half of the 20th century. The story is wide in scope, taking place not only in coastal Canada, but also in Europe during World War I and New York City during the "Roaring 20s." Full of hidden family secrets and mounting tragedies, this is a powerful -- and often darkly humorous -- yarn, written by an award winning playwright and actress. (CND49, $16.00)
Field Notes from the Northern Forest  •  Curt Stager NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 329 PAGES Combining the latest in scientific literature with his own observations, Sager offers 20 natural science essays exploring the lives of the animals, plants and fungi commonly encountered in the forests of eastern North America. (USE03, $19.95)
Fodor's Montreal's 25 Best  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A shirt-pocket guide to Montreal, this slim book includes an excellent map of the center of the city and essential information on its highlights, including restaurant recommendations and sightseeing -- all in a slipcover. (CND41, $11.95)
Fodor's Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada, With New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador  •  Fodor's Travel Publications GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER With its many photographs, great introductory chapters and practical travel information, this book is an excellent overview of Italy and its attractions for visitors. Featuring separate sections on suggested places to visit, recommended walks, practical information, descriptions of restaurants and hotels, ratings of sights, and a chronology of historic events. (CND306, $16.95)
Frommer's Newfoundland & Labrador  •  Frommer's GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 229 PAGES A compact guide in the popular series with plenty of practical information on where to go and stay. The author, a proud Newfoundler, lives in Petty Harbour. (NFL22, $16.99)
The Frozen Echo, Greenland and the Exploration of North America, 1000-1500  •  Kirsten Seaver HISTORY •  1997 •  PAPER  • 407 PAGES A scholarly account of Norse settlements in Greenland and Canada -- the best analysis of the subject to be published in decades. Seaver, a talented writer, offers a vivid history of the Norse, their voyages to the New World and mysterious disappearance. Based on recent archaeological evidence, this book is of much interest to travelers to the west coast of Greenland, Davis Strait and Labrador. (ARC76, $29.95)
Great Heart, The History of a Labrador Adventure  •  John Rugge  •  James West Davidson EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A fascinating tale of hardship and courage in the Canadian wilderness, drawing heavily on the diaries and published reports of the turn-of-the-century adventurers. Intrigued by the famous Labrador story, Rugge and West reconstruct, in novelistic detail, the original Hubbard-Wallace expedition that ended in the starvation of Leonidis Hubbard. Even more interesting is their account of the two rival groups who went to investigate the dissaster in 1905, one led by the surviving partner Wallace and the other Hubbard's widow Mina. High adventure (and romance!) by the authors of the Complete Wilderness Paddler. (CND63, $17.00)
Guide to the Offshore Wildlife of the Northern Atlantic  •  Michael H. Tove FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES An oversize field guide to the seabirds, ocean mammals and turtles found off Atlantic shores north of the Tropic of Cancer featuring 39 excellent color plates and extensive descriptive information. With a helpful checklist and charts giving the seasonal abundance of each species at 18 key locations throughout the Atlantic. (ATL11, $24.95)
How to be a Canadian, Even If You Already are One  •  Ian Ferguson  •  Will Ferguson CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2008 •  PAPER  • 275 PAGES A tongue-in-cheek portrait of Canadian people and society, written by two native sons. It's a guidebook for newcomers to Canada. The Fergusons have a good time poking fun at their compatriots, while at the same time providing insights into the cultural landscape. Will Ferguson is the author of Why I Hate Canadians. (CND208, $19.95)
Hungry Ocean, A Swordboat Captain's Journey  •  Linda Greenlaw TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES An account of a 30-day swordfishing trip from Gloucester to the Grand Banks by a veteran fishing boat captain. A formidable skipper (and woman at that), Greenlaw details all the excitement, boredom, weather, and characters on a first-class fishing operation off the coast of Newfoundland. (NFL17, $14.00)
Identities in North America, The Search for Community  •  Robert Earle CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1995 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Mexican, Canadian -- or "American"? Contributors to this academic conference ponder what it all means. David Crombie (the former mayor of Toronto) writes on Canadian cities, Mark Pachter takes on American identity, and several politicians debate the Quebec question. It is a stimulating, wonderfully uneven book. (CND14, $24.95)
The Illustrated History of Canada  •  Craig Brown HISTORY •  2007 •  PAPER  • 626 PAGES A good, nicely illustrated history of Canada, featuring contributions by six Canadian historians, along with hundreds of engravings, maps, photographs and illustrations. It's a well-edited, lively overview of the nation from initial European contact to the post-war years. Desmond Morton contributed the chapter covering 1945-2000. Fifth edition (CND19, $32.95)
In the Skin of a Lion  •  Michael Ondaatje LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 243 PAGES This richly lyrical, poetic novel by Michael Ondaatje is set in 1920's Toronto and rural Ontario. It's a demanding -- and rewarding -- book. Its protagonist is a tough woodsman who comes to the rough-and-tumble city. (CND13, $13.00)
An Innocent in Newfoundland, Even More Curious Rambles and Singular Encounters  •  David W. McFadden TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 320 PAGES In this entertaining chronicle and portrait of Newfoundland, McFadden (an errant Canadian who has written many volumes of travel and poetry) stops in to visit poets and writers, pays homage to the Vikings at L'Anse aux Meadows, admires the puffins and -- as usual -- visits a few taverns en route. (NFL20, $16.95)
Insight Guide Canada  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES A volume in the award-winning Insight series, this guide is noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and informative short essays. It is a thoroughly illustrated, comprehensive guide to the history and culture of Canada. (CND42, $23.95)
Insight Pocket Guide Quebec Province  •  Insight Guides GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 92 PAGES A compact guide to Quebec, with 16 suggested itineraries, including Quebec City, Montreal and the Gaspe Peninsula. With color photographs and excellent local maps, including a separate pull-out map with insets of Montreal and Quebec City. (CND38, $13.95)
Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand  •  Kenn Kaufman BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  2006 •  PAPER  • 336 PAGES Kaufman's absorbing account of coming-of-age as a Wichita teenager on the road in 1973 with a summer's pay in his pocket and the goal of seeing as many birds as he could in a year. He tallied 671, impressive by any account and extraordinary if you count birds per buck. He did it all for $1,000. This cult classic was originally published in 1973. (BRD27, $14.00)
Kit's Law  •  Donna Morrissey LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES A coming-of-age story steeped in the flavor of 1950s Newfoundland. The tale is told through the eyes of Kit, the feisty 14-year-old protagonist who must watch over herself and her mentally retarded mother after the death of her grandmother. (NFL14, $17.95)
The Last of the Celts  •  Marcus Tanner HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 398 PAGES Welsh journalist Tanner mixes anecdote, interview and research in this lively account of encounters with far-flung Celts from Scotland, Wales and Belfast to Brittany, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Trelew. (GBR527, $22.00)
The Last Spike, The Great Railway, 1881-1885  •  Pierre Berton HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 496 PAGES Part two in Berton's exhilarating narrative of the boldest project in Canadian history, the building of the transcontinental railroad. Berton, arguably the country's greatest historian, focuses on personalities and politics, drawing from a multitude of historical documents. The first volume is "The National Dream" (CND178). (CND179, $24.95)
Latitudes of Melt  •  Joan Clark LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 295 PAGES Magical realism goes north in this novel that begins with a baby's miraculous journey across the North Atlantic upon a piece of ice after the sinking of the Titanic. It follows three generations of woman living in coastal Newfoundland. (NFL15, $14.00)
Lives and Landscapes, A Photographic Memoir of Outport Newfoundland and Labrador, 1949-1963  •  Elmer Harp CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 288 PAGES A warmly anecdotal, illustrated journal of ethnographic travels in Newfoundland. The book is a captivating snapshot of the Strait of Belle Isles of decades past, featuring 200 marvelous color illustrations of the people, landscapes and activities of these remote outposts. Harp, now professor emeritus of Anthropology at Dartmouth, first traveled the region as a Ph.D. student in the 1940s. (NFL21, $39.95)
Lonely Planet Canada  •  Mark Lightbody  •  Thomas Huhti  •  Ryan Ver Berkmoes GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 928 PAGES Now in its 7th edition and almost 1000 pages long, this practical guide to Canada is the most comprehensive available. With information on all the provinces, including Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, it is perfect for travelers visiting multiple Canadian destinations, or some of the less traveled regions. It contains 100 maps and a great deal of practical information on accommodations, outdoor adventuring and cultural attractions. (CND54, $26.99)
Louisbourg 1758, Wolfe's First Siege  •  Rene Chartrand  •  Patrice Courcelle HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 96 PAGES A short history of the Siege of Louisbourg by James Wolfe and his troops, who landed on the beaches of Nova Scotia and battled French troops. Illustrated throughout in color and black-and-white, it incorporates many of the original accounts by soldiers and commanders who fought there. (CND81, $19.95)
Louisbourg, A Living History Colourguide  •  Susan Biagi GUIDEBOOK •  1997 •  PAPER  • 72 PAGES An illustrated guidebook to the city of Louisbourg, North America's largest reconstructed historical site. Historical information and descriptions of buildings and artifacts are complemented by color photographs. (CND22, $10.95)
Maine and Maritime Provinces Map  •  National Geographic MAP A regional map of Maine, including the Canadian Maritime Provinces. (USE39, $7.95)
The Maine Reader, The Down East Experience, 1614 to Present  •  Charles Shain LITERATURE •  1997 •  PAPER  • 524 PAGES • COMING IN OCTOBER An excellent anthology covering the gamut of the state's culture and history, from early European explorers to the 20th century works of Carolyn Chute, Rachel Carson and John McPhee. Selections from Longfellow, Thoreau, Millay and Jewett appear alongside some rare gems, such as an excerpt from the journal of one of Benedict Arnold's foot soldiers. (USE57, $20.95)
Mammals of North America  •  Roland W. Kays  •  Don E. Wilson FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A comprehensive guide by two noted mammalogists and featuring 108 color plates, illustrating 442 species. Range maps and descriptive text on ecology, habitat and behavior complement the wonderful paintings. (NAM11, $19.95)
Mammals of North America, Temperate and Arctic Regions  •  Adrian Forsyth NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A handsome, illustrated reference to the mammals of North America from polar bears to bison, mountain lions and the black squirrel. Forsyth ("Tropical Nature"), includes not only up-to-date information on taxonomy and distribution but also discusses the behavior and ecology of each species. With range maps and hundreds of color photogrpahs. (NAM02, $29.95)
The Many Landfalls of John Cabot  •  Peter E. Pope EXPLORATION •  1997 •  PAPER A scholarly analysis of Cabot's journey and the debate over his much-disputed landfall in North America. With period maps, engravings, and stamps. (NFL18, $17.95)
Mercy Among the Children  •  David Richards LITERATURE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 384 PAGES Set in rural New Brunswick, this family saga tells of one man's stoicism despite overwhelming misfortune. Winner of Canada's Giller Prize. (CND193, $24.95)
Montcalm and Wolfe, The French and Indian War  •  Francis Parkman  •  Caleb Carr  •  John Keegan HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 640 PAGES This volume, a reprint of the original 1884 edition by the great Francis Parkman, is an extensively researched account of the French and Indian War and of the great generals Montcalm and Wolfe. (CND16, $24.95)
Moon Handbook Canadian Rockies  •  Andrew Hempstead GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 330 PAGES A practical guide for the independent traveler, with plenty of useful information on where to go and what to do. Now in its 4th edition, the book includes information on Banff and Jasper National Parks. (CND231, $17.95)
Moon Nova Scotia  •  Andrew Hempstead GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES A practical guide in the popular series. (CND261, $16.95)
Moose  •  Valerius Geist  •  Michael H. Francis NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A natural history of the moose, by one of the leading authorities, Valerius Geist. Their migration, social interactions and mating rituals are all covered, along with issues concerning their natural habitats and conservation. The informative text is complemented by wonderful color photographs. (BST56, $21.95)
The National Dream, The Great Railway, 1871 to 1881  •  Pierre Berton HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 456 PAGES An exhilarating narrative of the boldest project in Canadian history, the building of the transcontinental railroad. Berton, arguably the country's greatest historian, focuses on personalities and politics, drawing from a multitude of historical documents. The first of two parts, this book follows the railway from idea to the beginning of construction. Part two, "The Last Spike" (CND179), is also available. (CND178, $24.95)
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America  •  National Geographic FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 502 PAGES From Alaska to Baja California, this field guide published by the National Geographic Society, now in its fifth edition (with tabs!), is the one to carry. Practical to use in the field, it has maps, illustrations and descriptions of the birds on facing pages. The scale of the maps changes with the range of the bird, which means you get a more detailed regional map for those birds with a restricted range. This fully revised fifth edition features nearly 700 color range maps, bigger and better than ever. (FG09, $24.00)
New Brunswick Map  •  Map Art Maps MAP A colorful travel map of New Brunswick at a scale of 1:640,000. Published in Canada. (CND80, $4.95)
Newfoundland, Journey into a Lost Nation  •  Greg Locke  •  Michael Crummett TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2004 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES An illustrated chronicle of Newfoundland, its history, changing traditions and ways of life by a native photojournalist. Greg Locke is managing editor of the St. John's Sunday Independent and novelist Michael Crummey, who provides the text, lives in St. John's. The book features two introductory essays and a portfolio of color photographs. (NFL19, $21.95)
No Great Mischief  •  Alistair MacLeod LITERATURE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES The first novel from short story writer Alistair MacLeod tells the story of the MacDonalds, a Scottish family who moved to the New World and settled on Cape Breton Island, but never forgot their Gaelic roots. Following the MacDonalds from the late 18th century up to the present, MacLeod creates a modern saga of the immigrant experience, familial bonds and life in coastal Canada. (CND48, $14.95)
Return to Wild America, A Yearlong Search for the Continent's Natural Soul  •  Scott Weidensaul NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 416 PAGES Weidensaul follows in the footsteps conservation pioneers Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher in this homage to their 1953 journey, modern travelogue and eye-opening report on wilderness in America. (USA123, $15.00)
River Thieves  •  Michael Crummey LITERATURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 352 PAGES A novel of Newfoundland's colonial past. Crummey draws on the history of the early European settlers and the devasting impact on the Beothuk people. (NFL13, $13.00)
The Sagas of Icelanders  •  Jane Smiley  •  Robert Kellog EXPLORATION •  2000 •  PAPER  • 544 PAGES Nine sagas and six tales collected in a single volume, all newly translated for this edition marking the 1,000th anniversary of Leif Eriksson's voyage to North America, and including an introduction by Jane Smiley (whose books include the wonderful novel of Norse settlements "The Greenlanders"). Composed between 1000 and 1500, these rousing tales are told with surprising directness and simplicity. Any modern explorer setting off across the North Atlantic should consider taking along this big book. (ICL13, $22.00)
Sea of Slaughter, A Chronicle of the Destruction of Animal Life in the North Atlantic  •  Farley Mowat NATURAL HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES This massively researched book documents human exploitation of the marine resources of the North Atlantic, including a blow-by-blow account of the extinction of the Great Auk, a long chapter on the Basque whaling industry and much information on the cod. This influential book was originally published in 1984. (OCE07, $16.95)
Shadows on the Rock  •  Willa Cather LITERATURE •  1995 •  PAPER  • 229 PAGES Set at the end of the 17th century in rural Quebec, this beautifully realized novel highlights the struggles of the Parisian widower Auclair and his young daughter to adapt to their new land. (CND10, $13.95)
The Shipping News  •  E. Annie Proulx LITERATURE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 337 PAGES An international bestseller that put Newfoundland on the world stage, this lyrical novel conjures the tough life of a recently divorced journalist struggling to get through the day in a remote fishing town. Populated by wonderfully eccentric characters, it is the tale of a prodigal son returned home, vivid in its description of the place. You won't be able to put it down. (NFL03, $15.00)
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America  •  David Sibley FIELD GUIDE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES A compact, geographically-specific version of the Sibley Guide with all-new range maps, the same glorious illustrations and expanded, extremely valuable descriptions of each bird with status, habitat, range, voice and identifying marks. It includes 20 pages on the many and confusing species of wood warblers. This is the book we are now using. For birders living west of the Rockies, you'll want to use Sibley's "Birds of Western North America" (USW418). (USE262, $19.95)
Smithsonian Handbook: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises  •  Mark Carwardine FIELD GUIDE •  2002 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES In the trademark, graphic Eyewitness style, this sturdy guidebook colorfully describes the world's cetaceans with numerous illustrations, range maps, fluke drawings and a few paragraphs on each species. (FG02, $20.00)
Stolen Continents, 500 Years of Conquest and Resistance in the Americas  •  Ronald Wright HISTORY •  2004 •  PAPER  • 464 PAGES A powerful history of imperialism and resistance in the Americas, with a focus on the Aztec, Maya, Inca, Cherokee and Iroquois. Wright's illuminating account, told largely from the point of view of the losers, details the rapid collapse of cultures and societies in the Americas following the arrival of the Europeans in 1492. Wright draws on an impressive range of archival material in reconstructing this classic account, originally published in 1993. Wright is also the author of Time Among the Maya. (NAM20, $17.00)
The Surgeon's Mate  •  Patrick O'Brian LITERATURE •  1991 •  PAPER The seventh in the Aubrey-Maturin series. This one focuses on naturalist-spy Maturin being chased across the Grand Banks by a couple of American privateers. He makes it back to England, of course, where he's sent on a new and perilous mission with Aubrey to France. (NFL12, $14.95)
Theatre of Fish, Travels Through Newfoundland and Labrador  •  John Gimlette TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 356 PAGES Gimlette (At the Tomb of the Inflatable Pig) reels in history, folklore and some pretty odd characters in this rollicking account of his travels around The Rock. His Newfoundland, steeped in myth and cod, is more than slightly off kilter. We can almost forgive him for occasionally being too clever for his own good! Gimlette travels, in part, in the footsteps of his adventurous great-grandfather Eliot Curwen and much-ballyhooed contemporary Wilfred Grenfell, about whom we learn a great deal. (CND234, $15.00)
This Marvellous Terrible Place, Images of Newfoundland and Labrador  •  Yva Momatiuk  •  John Eastcott CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1998 •  PAPER  • 176 PAGES This portrait of Newfoundland, compiled by two accomplished photojournalists, combines color photographs and oral histories of the area. (NFL07, $24.95)
Tilting, Newfoundland  •  Robert Mellin ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 208 PAGES An intriguing overview of odd buildings in Newfoundland, featuring both photographs and drawings. It showcases the architecture of the fishing villages, directly influenced by the windswept coastal landscape, where houses are sometimes built from boats (or even function as boats!). Author Robert Mellin provides commentary, journal entries and oral histories from local residents. (NFL16, $24.95)
To See Every Bird On Earth: A Father, A Son, And A Lifelong Obsession  •  Dan Koeppel NATURAL HISTORY •  2006 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES Ostensibly about birds and birdwatching, this enormously appealing book is a memoir by a talented writer of his father, a father who happens to be in the elite cadre of major birders. Dan Koeppel chronicles his father's growing interest in birds in this enormously appealing memoir of a life devoted to birds. Richard is a member of an elite group who have tallied more than 7,000 species. Koeppel includes his own travels tagging along and brief profiles of other eccentric listers. (BRD28, $14.00)
Trans-Canada Rail Guide  •  Melissa Graham GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES A compact, kilometer-by-kilometer guide to the 4,000-mile rail journey across North America from Halifax to Vancouver (including spur lines to Churchill and Prince Rubert). With 30 maps of cities and town en route, brief descriptions of major attractions and much information on the railroad itself. 4th edition. (CND04, $19.95)
True North  •  Lawrence Millman  •  Elliott Merrick TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2006 •  PAPER Merrick's 1933 ode to Labrador, a warmly detailed, affectionate account of abandoning city life for the wilderness, his experiences living and working with trappers and settlers, and the nurse he met and married in a remote community (her told her story in Northern Nurse). With Merrick's original illustrations. (CND257, $19.00)
The Verb to Bird, Sightings of an Avid Birder  •  Peter Cashwell NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  PAPER  • 269 PAGES A memoir of the birding life, its pleasures, obsessions and pitfalls. Based in the Carolinas (where he teaches English), Cashwell recounts in these essays the birds he's encountered, the why and wherefores of the birding life and some very entertaining anecdotes. Along the way, Cashwell traces his own development from casual novice to life lister (with a desire to see all the birds of North America). (BRD26, $14.95)
Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga  •  William Fitzhugh  •  Elisabeth Ward HISTORY •  2000 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES Published in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibit, this excellent book explores the culture and history of the Vikings, and especially their well documented voyages to North America. Featuring 400 color photographs, the book also includes lively essays on Viking art, religion, daily life and colonies. It's especially good on Viking expansion and settlements in North America. (VIK11, $34.95)
Vinland Sagas, Norse Discovery of America  •  Magnus Magnusson EXPLORATION •  1965 •  PAPER  • 124 PAGES These Icelandic sagas, as edited by the great Magnus Magnusson, tell the compelling story of the Norse discovery of America five centuries before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. (VIK03, $13.00)
The Walker's Literary Companion  •  Robert Gilbert  •  Anne Wallace  •  Jeffrey Robinson ANTHOLOGY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 352 PAGES A diverse sampling of literature on the pleasures of walking, representing philosophers, naturalists, outcasts, athletes and intellectuals from Plato to Frank O'Hara. (WLK08, $24.00)
Walking  •  Henry David Thoreau REFERENCE •  1994 •  PAPER  • 92 PAGES You may want to carry this small volume in your daypack for inspiration. In it, Thoreau offers his meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel. (WLK04, $9.95)
Wallace Stegner, His Life and Work  •  Jackson Benson BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 472 PAGES An award-winning portrait of the prototypical western writer and his times, this book captures the harsh Saskatchewan plains and the rough-and-ready timber camps of Stegner's youth. (CND18, $20.00)
A Whale for the Killing  •  Farley Mowat NATURAL HISTORY •  2005 •  PAPER  • 214 PAGES Farley Mowat's chronicle of a wounded, 80-ton fin whale trapped in a small Newfoundland outport, first published in 1972. Morwat interweaves a dramatic, personal tale to save an individual whale with a pleaa to put an end to comerical whaling. (NFL09, $16.95)
Winslow Homer Watercolors  •  Helen A. Cooper ART & ARCHITECTURE •  1987 •  PAPER  • 260 PAGES An examination of the watercolors of one of America's beloved artists, Winslow Homer. Analytical essays and discussions of technique accompany 132 color reproductions, chronicling his work throughout New England, the Adirondacks, Key West, the Bahamas and Bermuda. This is a valuable book for anyone wishing to understand Homer's work and the American watercolor tradition. (USE85, $39.95)