Description
Book SynopsisFriesen links the media studies of Harold Innis to the social history of recent decades. The result is a framework for Canadian history as told by ordinary people.
Trade Review'[Citizens and Nation is an engaging and evocative book, written for the general reader as well as the academic... The significance of this book rests in its unique treatment of the Canadian identity, as it places the common people at the centre of the story and demonstrates the pivotal role they have played in shaping Canadian institutions and values. Friesen's version of Canadian history is not about grand and monumental acts, but about the people who managed to survive, provide for their families, engage with their communities and see the value of their own traditions. He looks to the least powerful, at least in conventional terms, for the clues to what makes Canada a nation.' Acadiensis 'Gerald Friesen elevates the debate over the character of national history to a higher plain in this thought-provoking, insightful, and at times brilliant book. Friesen not only answers why the old history no longer resonates in the minds of so many Canadians, but also proposes means by which to restore history in an era dominated by the screen capitalism.' Canadian Book Review Annual 'This is a book which must be read by anyone seriously interested in Canadian (however you define it) history.' Labour
