Winner, Evelyn Richardson Award for Non-Fiction and Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing
Finalist, Dartmouth Book Award for Non-Fiction, and the Margaret and John Savage Award for Best First Book (Non-fiction)
A Hill Times' 100 Best Books in 2020 Selection
On Canada's History Bestseller List

Growing up on the south shore of Nova Scotia, Tyler LeBlanc wasn't fully aware of his family's Acadian roots - until a chance encounter with an Acadian historian prompted him to delve into his family history. LeBlanc's discovery that he could trace his family all the way to the time of the Acadian Expulsion and beyond forms the basis of this compelling account of Le Grand Derangement.

Piecing together his family history through archival documents, Tyler LeBlanc tells the story of Joseph LeBlanc (his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather), Joseph's ten siblings, and their families. With descendants scattered across modern-day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, the LeBlancs provide a window into the diverse fates that awaited the Acadians when they were expelled from their homeland. Some escaped the deportation and were able to retreat into the wilderness. Others found their way back to Acadie. But many were exiled to Britain, France, or the future United States, where they faced suspicion and prejudice and struggled to settle into new lives.

A unique biographical approach to the history of the Expulsion, Acadian Driftwood is a vivid insight into one family's experience of this traumatic event.

About the Author
Tyler LeBlanc was born and raised in a tiny fishing village on Nova Scotia's south shore. He studied history and journalism as an undergraduate and holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. His writing has appeared in This Magazine, Modern Farmer, Explore, Dal Magazine, and the Coast.

Reviews
"Tyler LeBlanc takes readers on a quest to uncover his family's forgotten history, a journey into the horrors of the eighteenth-century deportations that scattered his Acadian ancestors and almost destroyed their culture. Deeply researched and honestly told, Acadian Driftwood is a gritty, gripping account of a dark chapter in Canada's history and an uplifting tale of discovery - discovery of heritage, of family, and, ultimately, of identity." -- Dean Jobb, author of The Acadians: A People's Story of Exile and Triumph
"With great care and an eye for well-researched details, Tyler LeBlanc tells a story of trauma by making room for personal and historical insights into the lives of the Acadians who survived the Expulsion. A tapestry of 250-year-old threads, Acadian Driftwood is stronger and more resilient than one would ever expect, let alone woven in such a careful and vibrant manner." -- Simon Thibault, author of Pantry and Palate: Remembering and Rediscovering Acadian Food
"The Acadian Expulsion may be an unlikely choice for a summer read, but Tyler LeBlanc's Acadian Driftwood was so engaging I blew through it like it was a summer blockbuster." -- Cathy Carter * Grid City Magazine *
"Acadian Driftwood wraps readers in the severity of Acadian suffering and the strength of the Acadian soul." -- Micaela Cockburn * The East Mag *


Awards
Winner of Evelyn Richardson Award for Non-Fiction 2021 (Canada) and Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing 2021 (Canada). Short-listed for Dartmouth Book Award for Non-Fiction 2021 (Canada) and Margaret and John Savage Award for Best First Book (Non-fiction) 2021 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9781773101187
Author Tyler LeBlanc
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Goose Lane Editions
Publisher Goose Lane Editions
Weight(grams) 228g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 13mm