This is a very interesting and informative memoir of the wife of a British soldier. Mrs Parr Trail writes letters to family and friends back in the UK and describes the voyage across the Atlantic, the landing in Quebec City and the voyage through Montreal and then Ontario to their settlement near today's Peterborough. One of the reasons for publishing the memoir is to provide prospective emigrants with the real story of what life could be like if they should choose to settle in Canada. The life of the first settlers was not an easy one but with some funds, hard work and patience, it was possible to clear some land, build a suitable dwelling and put into crops to survive the first few years. The memoir is very positive and discusses what makes a good settler. She even handles the subject of class and warns those of the upper classes who are afraid of hard labour to stay home. Canada was a level playing field for immigrants from all classes and those who worked hard were successful, regardless of their backgrounds. Her writing is excellent and she describes the flora, fauna and natural environment with care. She also provides instructions on pickling, candle making, bread making.maple syrup etc ( )

After reading Susannah Moodie's memoir of settling in Canada and absolutely hating it, I was dubious about committing myself to reading her sister's published letters on the same subject. I need not have worried, Catherine Parr Traill comes over as a much more pleasant person and I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with many of her views of life in her new country. I share her obsessions with the wildlife and flora of Ontario and am equally fascinated by the weather and the formations of ice on waterways in the winter.Traill's attitude towards the native population was rather patronising, but typical of the time. It was interesting to read about Canada at a time less than 200 years ago when nearly everyone was a new immigrant and when buying land carried with it obligations as to clearing a certain proportion of it and maintaining or creating a road. It was a time when the main signs of civilisation in a new community were the presence of a grist mill and saw mill, followed by a store and, eventually, a place of worship. ( )

Excellent account of pioneer life in Upper Canada in the 1830's. ( )

The Backwoods of Canada: Being Letters from the Wife of an Emigrant Officer, Illustrative of the Domestic Economy of British America