Pierre Berton Bücher

In 1897 a grimy steamer docked in Seattle and set into epic motion the incredible succession of events that Pierre Berton's exhilarating The Klondike Fever chronicles in all its splendid and astonishing folly. For the steamer Portland bore two tons of pure Klondike gold. And immediately, the stampede north to Alaska began. Easily as many as 100,000 adventurers, dreamers, and would-be miners from all over the world struck out for the remote, isolated gold fields in the Klondike Valley, most of them in total ignorance of the long, harsh Alaskan winters and the territory's indomitable terrain. Less than a third of that number would complete the enormously arduous mountain journey to their destination. Some would strike gold. Berton's story belongs less to the few who would make their fortunes than to the many swept up in the gold mania, to often unfortunate effects and tragic ends. It is a story of cold skies and avalanches, of con men and gamblers and dance hall girls, of sunken ships, of suicides, of dead horses and desperate men, of grizzly old miners and millionaires, of the land — its exploitation and revenge. It is a story of the human capacity to dream, and to endure.

Exploring the dual nature of Niagara, the narrative delves into the interplay between its breathtaking natural beauty and the industrial developments it spurred in southern Ontario. The book features a diverse cast of characters, including heroes, villains, and visionaries, highlighting how this iconic landmark has shaped both the region's economic landscape and its environmental challenges, revealing a contemporary relevance that resonates with today's issues of pollution and industrialization.

The action is placed within the context both of the Battle of Arras, of which this attack was part, and as a milestone in the development of Canada as a nation.

The book vividly explores Canada's wild frontier through the lives of seven extraordinary individuals who faced daunting challenges and exhibited remarkable resilience. Among them are John Jewitt, a British seaman enslaved by the Nootka Indians, and Dr. Wilfred Grenfell, an eccentric missionary. The narratives include Cariboo Cameron, who bizarrely preserved his wife's body, and Mina Hubbard, who undertook a daring trek across Labrador for revenge. These stories blend historical fact with adventurous intrigue, highlighting the clash between cultures and the spirit of survival.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the narrative explores the struggles of over 1.5 million Canadians relying on relief, highlighting the plight of public dependents and the plight of young men living as hoboes. It delves into the societal unrest, with ordinary citizens rioting and facing governmental indifference, leading to the jailing of dissidents. The book examines the profound transformation of Canada during this turbulent period, illustrating how the nation emerged fundamentally changed from the crisis.

The narrative explores Canada's formative years, likening the nation's struggles to the tumultuous phase of adolescence. It highlights the challenges faced during significant battles in Africa, Flanders, Italy, and Korea, while also addressing Canada's desire for recognition and autonomy amidst the influence of a more dominant neighbor. This period is marked by conflicts both on the battlefield and in the quest for national identity, reflecting the complexities of growth and self-discovery.

With the building of the railroad and the settlement of the plains, the North West was opening up. The Klondike stampede was a wild interlude in the epic story of western development, and here are its dramatic tales of hardship, heroism, and villainy. We meet Soapy Smith, dictator of Skagway; Swiftwater Bill Gates, who bathed in champagne; Silent Sam Bonnifield, who lost and won back a hotel in a poker game; and Roddy Connors, who danced away a fortune at a dollar a dance. We meet dance-hall queens, paupers turned millionaires, missionaries and entrepreneurs, and legendary Mounties such as Sam Steele, the Lion of the Yukon.Pierre Berton's riveting account reveals to us the spectacle of the Chilkoot Pass, and the terrors of lesser-known trails through the swamps of British Columbia, across the glaciers of souther Alaska, and up the icy streams of the Mackenzie Mountains. It contrasts the lawless frontier life on the American side of the border to the relative safety of Dawson City. Winner of the Governor General's award for non-fiction, Klondike is authentic history and grand entertainment, and a must-read for anyone interested in the Canadian frontier.

In the four years between 1881 and 1885, Canada was forged into one nation by the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Last Spike reconstructs the incredible story of how some 2,000 miles of steel crossed the continent in just five years — exactly half the time stipulated in the contract. Pierre Berton recreates the adventures that were part of this vast undertaking: the railway on the brink of bankruptcy, with one hour between it and ruin; the extraordinary land boom of Winnipeg in 1881–1882; and the epic tale of how William Van Horne rushed 3,000 soldiers over a half-finished railway to quell the Riel Rebellion.Dominating the whole saga are the men who made it all possible — a host of astonishing characters: Van Horne, the powerhouse behind the vision of a transcontinental railroad; Rogers, the eccentric surveyor; Onderdonk, the cool New Yorker; Stephen, the most emotional of businessmen; Father Lacombe, the black-robed voyageur; Sam Steele, of the North West Mounted Police; Gabriel Dumont, the Prince of the Prairies; more than 7,000 Chinese workers, toiling and dying in the canyons of the Fraser Valley; and many more — land sharks, construction geniuses, politicians, and entrepreneurs — all of whom played a role in the founding of the new Canada west of Ontario.

True stories of mystery and romance intertwine with tales of tragedy and heroism, featuring figures like Bill Johnston, a notorious pirate of the St. Lawrence, and Brother XII, who led a mystic cult on Vancouver Island. The book vividly explores these captivating historical narratives, bringing the past to life through engaging storytelling.