Description
Book SynopsisAt once terrible and uplifting, memorable and harrowing, these stories describe a seminal period in Canadian history.
Trade Review".a superbly presented anthology of short fiction." James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review
"This book lives up to its name, Great Canadian War Stories." St. Albert Gazette, Susan Jones
"...clever and fun, and provides an antidote to much of the grim, but superb, material in this collection." Edmonton Journal, Marc Horton
"Whitaker has carefully chosen stories that represent the diversity of our war experiences, covering a range of topics, from life on the home front, to the battleground, internment, military justice and the varied ethnic, age and gender composition of Canada's war history....By seamlessly weaving together this diverse collection of stories, Whitaker illustrates the continuity and the tragedy of modern history, providing a compilation that will satisfy history and military buffs while educating and entertaining those unfamiliar with the wars. Great Canadian War Stories more than lives up to its aim of "present(ing) the face of war in its many guises." Lorne Roberts, Prairie Fire Review of Books (Full review at: www.prairiefire.mb.ca/reviews/whitaker_m.html)
"But the real virtue of this anthology lies in its selections from lesser-known or long-ignored authors -- Charles Yale Harrison, Will R. Bird, Thomas H. Raddall, Hugh Garner, and so on -- who have all but disappeared from our literary landscape." Joel Baetz, Essays on Canadian Writing
"As poignant, powerful and arresting as most of the entries are on their own, their interest is heightened by the factual commentaries preceding them.... Whitaker's knowledgeable introduction, and the authoritative foreword by Peter Stursberg...provide additional facts, figures and reflections." M.Wayne Cunningham, The Daily News, Kamloops
"This anthology, edited by author Muriel Whitaker, is one of the best selections that I have read. It includes an excellent cross-section of several genres, from dramatic first-hand experience, through fiction by prestigious Canadian authors, to humorous offerings that will tickle the fancy of veterans and non-veterans alike.... [There are] 22 excellent stories in this book and the editor should be congratulated on her introduction, which readers often ignore or gloss over. Don't miss this one..." Les Peate, esprit de corps
"Muriel Whitaker's collection Great Canadian War Stories contains excerpts from a wide range of twentieth-century works. For readers wanting an introduction to Canadian war fiction, including selections from Francophone works.Whitaker's collection will be very useful." Susan Fisher, Canadian Literature
"This is war seen by the foot-soldier and not by the officer class and there is little of the heroics and self-conscious posturing of much war writing though there is plenty of heroism. This is a most useful anthology and well worth having." Daniel Lamont, British Journal of Canadian Studies
