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LOUISBOURG: AN 18TH CENTURY TOWN
A.J.B Johnston, K. Donovan, B.A. Balcom, A. Storm and the Cape Breton District School Board
Reviewed by Jo Anna Burns Patton.
Volume 20 Number 2
Louisbourg: An 18th Century Town has to be one of the most interesting and useful titles I have reviewed. It's interesting for two reasons. In the first place the reader is given an in-depth and well-rounded view of Louisbourg - as a fortress, a seaport, and a community. The authors have included photographs, site plans, terminology and brief descriptions of typical life in the garrison. Louisbourg's use as a naval port and trade centre - including typical cost of items and threat of pirate attacks - is looked at. Considering Louisbourg as a community, the authors discuss typical food (including some recipes), education (did you know a typical school day began at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 6:00 p.m.?), clothing and fashion. However, the use of the book extends past providing basic information about Louisbourg. The authors have also included a variety of suggested activities at the end of each section for additional work. For example, after discussion on the attire of the eighteenth century upper class, students are asked to use this knowledge and design an outfit for the governor of Louisbourg (or his wife). After the discussion about the Micmacs, a suggested activity is looking at various forms of native crafts and art forms, perhaps bringing in a specialist to let students try their own hand at the crafts. As a final useful note lo teachers, Nimbus Publishing has allowed teachers to photocopy activities and exercises for classroom use. The book ends with a brief but annotated bibliography of books, articles and videos that students would find interesting. Lest I forget, the second reason that this title is interesting is the way it was put together. According to the foreword, although Louisbourg had a short life, it was rich and complex. Consequently, four Louisbourg historians and ten teachers from the Cape Breton School Board together created this educational and entertaining book. Jo Anna Burns Patton, Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School for Girls, Westmount, Que. |
1971-1979 | 1980-1985 | 1986-1990 | 1991-1995
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