Awful Splendour: A Fire History of Canada (Nature History Society)

Fire is a defining element in Canadian land and life. With few exceptions, Canada's forests and prairies have evolved with fire. Its peoples have exploited fire and sought to protect themselves from its excesses, and since Confederation, the country has devised various institutions to connect fire and society. Awful Splendour narrates the history of this grand saga.

The story has three parts. "Torch" sketches the historical geography of fire from the retreat of the ice sheets to the advent of agriculture, with human control limited to ignition. "Axe" focuses on the era of European colonization and describes what happens when people create new fuels through cutting. "Engine" traces the impact of industrialization. This section tells the story of institutions and events, province by province, and for the federal government, era by era, through the early 1980s. An Epilogue summarizes recent developments.

Fire remains a vital presence in the boreal environment. How Canadians have chosen to relate to it says a great deal about their national character. The book will interest geographers, historians, and members of the fire community.