The National Dream: The Great Railway, 1871-1881 and The Great Railway: The Last Spike, 1881-1885

Toronto: McCelland and Stewart Limited, 1973. Tenth Printing [stated]; Ninth Printing [stated]. Hardcover. Very good. 2 volume boxed set. Illustrated Endpapers. The Last Spike ISBN is 0771013272. Vol. I, xiii, [1]m 439, [3] pages. Cast of Characters. Maps. Chronology, Notes. Bibliography. Index. Vol. II, xii, [2], 478, [4] pages. Cast of Major Characters. The Great Canadian Photograph. Chronology, Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton CC OOnt (July 12, 1920 - November 30, 2004) was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a television personality and journalist. He won many honors and awards for his books. An accomplished storyteller, Berton was one of Canada's most prolific and popular authors. He wrote on Canadian history, critiques of mainstream religion, anthologies, children's books and historical works. He was also a founder of the Writers' Trust of Canada, a non-profit literary organization that encourages Canada's writing community. Berton's books became popular in part due to his light and fast-paced writing style. A history of the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway from its inception in 1871 to 1885. Using primary sources-diaries, letters, unpublished manuscripts, public documents and newspapers-Berton has reconstructed the period when Canadians of every stripe fought for or against the railway. Here's the fullest account ever published of the Pacific Scandal. Between 1881 and 1885, Canada was forged into a nation by the building of the railway. The Last Spike reconstructs the story of how some 2000 miles of steel crossed the continent in 5 years. Berton recreates the epic tale of how Van Horne rushed 3000 soldiers over a half-finished railway to quell the Riel Rebellion. Dominating the saga are a host of characters: Van Horne, the man with the transcontinental vision; Rogers, the surveyor; Onderdonk, the New Yorker; Stephen, the businessman; Sam Steele, of the NW Mounted Police; Gabriel Dumont, man of the Prairies; and more, all of whom played a role in the founding of Canada west of Ontario.