With the centenary of the First World War, communities across Canada arranged commemorations of the war experience to honour local servicemen who, through their triumphs and sacrifices, werepresented as laying the foundation for a free and independent country. Often overlooked are the triumphs and sacrifices of those who supported those soldiers, and the war effort in general, back at home. The Frontier of Patriotism provides an in-depth look at all aspects of Alberta's involvement in the war, reflecting Albertans' experiences both on the battlefield and on the home front. Contributors of the 40 essays all draw heavily on national and local archival resources. The war is seen through the letters, diaries and memoirs of the individuals who lived through it, as well as through accounts in local newspapers.

Readers will come away from this collection with a deeper appreciation of the different ways that the First World War, and its aftermath, shaped the lives of Albertans. For many, these four tumultuous years represented a time of individual valour and of communities pulling together and sacrificing for a noble cause. Yet, for others, the war left disillusionment and anger. Exploring these regional and local stories, as well as the national story, helps us understand the commonalities and distinctiveness of what it means to be Canadian. The Frontier of Patriotism is the most comprehensive treatment of Alberta during these critical, transformational years.

About the Author
Alvin Finkel is a professor of history at Athabasca University, Alberta. His publications include leading texts in Canadian history, as well as monographs on social policy, western Canadian political history, and interwar European politics. He has published widely on social policy issues. Current book review editor of Labour/Le Travail , Alvin Finkel is also the past editor of Prairie Forum . Mark Osborne Humphries is Associate Professor; Dunkley Chair in War and the Canadian Experience at Wilfrid Laurier University and Director, Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies (LCMSDS). He is the author of numerous publications, including The Last Plague: Spanish Influenza and the Politics of Public Health in Canada (2013). ADRIANA A. DAVIES is a well-known researcher, writer, editor and poet. She was the Executive Director of the Alberta Museums Association for thirteen years and founding Executive Director of the Heritage Community Foundation. JEFF KESHEN is Dean of Arts at Mount Royal University. He is also an adjunct professor in the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary. Catherine C. Cole is an Edmonton-based arts and heritage consultant. Her exhibitions and publications deal with Western Canadian labour and social and industrial history. She is the project manager and guest curator of the virtual exhibitions Piece by Piece: The GWG Story and Before E-Commerce: A History of Canadian Mail Order Catalogues and the author of Inventive Spirit: Alberta Patents from 1905-1975.

Reviews
The Frontier of Patriotism is a terrific addition to scholarship of the Great War, and a welcome companion to the many broader histories that have previously been written. - Mark Collin, Canada's History Magazine


Awards
Winner of Gold Medal, BPAA Alberta Publishing Award for Book Design 2017 and Gold Medal, Pub West Design Awards: Historical or Biographical Book 2017.



Book Information
ISBN 9781552388341
Author Adriana A. Davies
Format Paperback
Imprint University of Calgary Press
Publisher University of Calgary Press
Weight(grams) 1252g
Dimensions(mm) 217mm * 216mm * 35mm