Top Canadian Historical Biographies and Memoirs

The best Canadian Historical Biographies includes Hudson's Empire: A Rise and Fall Story, Alive: The Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read, The Curse of Oak Island: Treasure Hunt and many others as mentioned below.

1

Hudson's Empire: A Rise and Fall Story

  • NATIONAL BESTSELLER on modern Canada's origins.
  • Thrilling retelling of the Hudson's Bay Company story.
  • Dramatic and complex narrative spanning centuries.
  • Explores Indigenous impacts and cultural transformations.
  • Details corporate battles and political control.
  • Richly drawn characters in a captivating narrative.
  • Scholarly insights presented in a compelling format.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.99
2

Alive: The Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read

  • A gripping true survival story from the Andes.
  • Based on the harrowing 1972 plane crash.
  • Explores human resilience in extreme conditions.
  • Highlights the power of teamwork and friendship.
  • Details the ethical dilemmas of survival.
  • A classic in adventure and survival literature.
  • Engaging narrative that captivates readers' hearts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $9.99
3

The Curse of Oak Island: Treasure Hunt

  • Explore Oak Island's intriguing treasure hunt history.
  • Learn about mysterious discoveries and ancient secrets.
  • Follow the journeys of dedicated treasure hunters.
  • Uncover the legend of the enigmatic Money Pit.
  • Experience the thrill of modern treasure exploration.
  • Discover theories about hidden treasures on the island.
  • Join the Lagina brothers on their adventure.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.89
4

Jesintel: Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders (Paperback)

  • Collective wisdom from Coast Salish elders.
  • Interviews highlight cultural teachings and experiences.
  • Focus on language revitalization and family values.
  • Explores themes of sovereignty and storytelling.
  • Addresses historical trauma and community resilience.
  • Promotes ethical relationships with land and water.
  • Celebrates collaboration among communities and traditions.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $23.94
5

Hope: The Terry Fox Story (Paperback)

  • Inspiring story of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope.
  • Features excerpts from Terry's personal journal.
  • Highlights his resilience and courage against cancer.
  • Over 200 photos and documents included.
  • Interviews with family, friends, and supporters.
  • Celebrates a national movement against cancer.
  • Encourages ordinary people to achieve the impossible.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $20.44
6

The Company: Rise and Fall of Hudson's Bay Empire (1)

  • Explores the Hudson’s Bay Company’s rich history.
  • Uncovers modern Canada’s origins and development.
  • Dramatic account of corporate battles and rivalries.
  • Vivid portrayal of influential characters and events.
  • Engaging narrative style makes history accessible.
  • In-depth research provides new insights.
  • A must-read for Canadian history enthusiasts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $16.49
7

Becoming Green Gables: Myrtle Webb's Diary

  • Explores Myrtle Webb's life in Green Gables.
  • Offers diary entries from 1924 to 1954.
  • Chronicles the transformation of an ordinary farmhouse.
  • Highlights the history of PEI's tourist trade.
  • Details community and national events during her lifetime.
  • Includes visits from author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
  • Provides insights into modern conveniences' adoption.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $23.95
8

Grass Beyond the Mountains: Cattle Frontier

  • First in a thrilling trilogy of adventure.
  • Discover the rugged Canadian cattle frontier.
  • Experience life through three determined cowboys.
  • Richmond Hobson’s engaging storytelling style shines.
  • Blend of humor and gripping frontier challenges.
  • True tales surpassing typical Wild West fiction.
  • Perfect for lovers of adventure and history.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.99
9

Baltimore's Mansion: A Memoir by Wayne Johnston

  • Explores family history in Newfoundland's rugged landscape.
  • Captivating narrative filled with power and drama.
  • Descendants of Irish settlers in Ferryland.
  • Highlights struggles between generations and dreams.
  • Engaging memoir by acclaimed author Wayne Johnston.
  • Connects personal story to broader Newfoundland culture.
  • A beautiful reflection on life and resilience.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $19.00
10

Champlain's Dream: A Biography by David Hackett Fischer

  • Award-winning biography of Samuel de Champlain.
  • Written by acclaimed historian David Hackett Fischer.
  • Explores Champlain's life as a soldier and explorer.
  • Highlights his role in founding New France.
  • Details his navigational skills and Atlantic crossings.
  • Includes contemporary images and Champlain's own maps.
  • Offers insights into early colonial relationships and conflicts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $5.19
11

The Company: Hudson's Bay Empire History

  • NATIONAL BESTSELLER in Canadian history.
  • Thrilling retelling of Hudson's Bay Company's story.
  • Explores modern Canada's origins and complexities.
  • Detailed narrative, over thirty years in the making.
  • Highlights Indigenous interactions and transformations.
  • Dramatic corporate battles and political power shifts.
  • Engaging and accessible storytelling by Stephen R. Bown.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $18.83
12

Lucy Maud Montgomery: The Gift of Wings

  • Comprehensive biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery.
  • Extensive research spanning over two decades.
  • Interviews with Montgomery's family and close acquaintances.
  • Rich social context enhances the narrative.
  • Explores her childhood in Prince Edward Island.
  • Details her tumultuous relationships and motherhood experiences.
  • Engaging and intimate portrayal of a literary icon.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $25.00
13

Hope: The Story of Terry Fox (Paperback)

  • Explores Terry Fox's inspiring life and legacy.
  • Features excerpts from Terry's Marathon of Hope journal.
  • Includes over 200 photos and documents.
  • Highlights interviews with those who knew Terry best.
  • Showcases Terry's determination and resilience against cancer.
  • Inspires readers to pursue impossible dreams.
  • Supports cancer research through Terry's ongoing legacy.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $26.93
14

Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons: Churchill & Roosevelt

  • Dual biography of influential mothers and sons.
  • Explores lives of Jennie Jerome and Sara Delano.
  • Highlights impact on Churchill and Roosevelt's leadership.
  • Impeccably researched by award-winning historian Charlotte Gray.
  • Examines women's roles in 19th-century society.
  • Offers insights into resilience and loyalty dynamics.
  • Reveals how leaders are shaped by their mothers.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $14.99
15

Wolf Willow: A Frontier Legacy [Penguin Classics]

  • Unique blend of fiction and nonfiction.
  • Explores childhood memories and adult reflections.
  • Set in Saskatchewan's Cypress Hills region.
  • Portrait of pioneer community life.
  • Published by renowned Penguin Classics.
  • Includes authoritative texts and scholarly introductions.
  • A timeless portrayal of the last plains frontier.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $16.00
16

Getting Out Alive: Azrieli Holocaust Memoir

  • Gripping Holocaust memoir of survival and courage.
  • Follows Tommy Dick's harrowing journey in Nazi Europe.
  • Highlights the importance of friendship and quick wit.
  • Explores identity and persecution during World War II.
  • A vivid account of human resilience and hope.
  • Part of the Azrieli Series of survivor stories.
  • Engaging narrative that captivates and inspires readers.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $6.99
17

A Promise of Sweet Tea: Azrieli Series

  • Captivating memoir of survival during the Holocaust.
  • Follows young Pinchas Blitt's harrowing journey.
  • Explores rich Jewish traditions and language.
  • Highlights the impact of rising antisemitism.
  • Describes life under Soviet occupation.
  • Emphasizes themes of faith and belonging.
  • A profound story of loss and resilience.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: 0
18

"Exploring East Africa: Burton's Journey of Discovery"

  • Groundbreaking explorations of uncharted East Africa.
  • Vivid descriptions of diverse African cultures and landscapes.
  • Personal hardships faced during the adventurous journey.
  • Mix of science, geography, and cultural immersion.
  • Essential historical document of 19th-century exploration.
  • Engaging narrative reflecting intellectual curiosity and resilience.
  • Highly recommended for history and exploration enthusiasts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $0.34
19

John C. O'Neill: Irish Nationalist & Officer

  • Explores John C. O'Neill's remarkable life.
  • Details the 1866 Fenian invasion of Canada.
  • Highlights O'Neill's leadership and humanitarian efforts.
  • Covers his presidency of the Fenian Brotherhood.
  • Describes his failed attacks into Canada.
  • Discusses O'Neill's colonization efforts in the West.
  • First full-length biography on this historical figure.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $29.95
20

Ivan the Terrible by Robert Payne

  • Comprehensive biography of Czar Ivan IV.
  • Explores Ivan's infamous reputation and tyranny.
  • Based on extensive original Russian research.
  • Details Ivan's complex personality and upbringing.
  • Covers significant historical events and actions.
  • Describes Ivan's impact on Russia's growth.
  • Written by scholar Robert Payne and Nikita Romanoff.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $19.95
21

Epic Wanderer: David Thompson's Canadian Mapping

  • First full-length biography of David Thompson.
  • Explores late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • Documents Thompson's extensive mapping of Canadian territory.
  • Illustrated with sketches and detailed notebook pages.
  • Highlights Thompson’s contributions to scientific exploration.
  • Uncovers his overlooked legacy and personal struggles.
  • Includes a thorough bibliography for further reading.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $15.99
22

Distant Fires: Duluth to Hudson Bay Journey

  • A thrilling true-life canoe adventure.
  • 1,700-mile journey from Duluth to Hudson Bay.
  • Retraces historic paddles of Eric Sevareid.
  • Humorous and engaging storytelling style.
  • Beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations by Les Kouba.
  • Explores nature and human connections.
  • A captivating read for adventure enthusiasts.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $15.95
23

Early French-Canadian Families Vol. 1

  • First volume in a two-book series.
  • Explores early French-Canadian family histories.
  • Focuses on the first 100 years.
  • Details lives of settlers and their descendants.
  • Includes cross-references for intermarried families.
  • Essential for genealogical research enthusiasts.
  • Perfect for history and culture lovers.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.75
24

A Year to Remember 1933 (Flashback Series)

  • 120 pages of rich historical content.
  • Over 300 high-definition nostalgic photos.
  • Interactive activities for family fun.
  • Ideal gift for birthdays and anniversaries.
  • Explore significant events of 1933.
  • Includes diary corners for personal reflections.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $13.79
25

Drs. Amelia & Lilian B. Yeomans

  • Explore the lives of pioneering Canadian physicians.
  • Learn about Dr. Amelia Yeomans' social reform efforts.
  • Discover Dr. Lilian Yeomans' journey to recovery.
  • Uncover their commitment to Biblical values and healing.
  • Gain insights into women's roles in medicine.
  • Understand their impact on First Nations communities.
  • Inspire your faith with their powerful stories.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $5.00
26

William Osler: A Life in Medicine (Paperback)

  • Comprehensive biography of William Osler's life.
  • Explores evolution of modern medicine and humanism.
  • Meticulously researched with new interpretations.
  • Highlights Osler's innovative teaching and bedside practices.
  • Illuminates the impact of the Great War.
  • Readable and authoritative narrative style.
  • Captures the essence of a compassionate physician.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $27.01
27

Cowboy Life on the Cattle Frontier

  • Continues Rich and Pan's cattle ranching adventure.
  • Captures the cowboy way of life vividly.
  • Explores themes of hardship and endurance.
  • Set against the backdrop of World War II.
  • Describes the beauty of nature and solitude.
  • Written by celebrated author Richmond Hobson.
  • A thrilling true account of ranch life.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $8.99
28

The Last Logging Show: Forestry Family Documentary

  • Third-generation logger explores changing forestry landscape.
  • Captures breathtaking scenery of Haida Gwaii.
  • Highlights struggles of traditional logging families.
  • Showcases vital connection between logging and community.
  • Reflects on the decline of an industry.
  • Compelling narrative of change and adaptation.
  • Invites contemplation on environmental preservation and progress.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $20.20
29

So Obstinately Loyal: James Moody Biography

  • Explores James Moody's complex Loyalist identity.
  • Features thrilling espionage during the American Revolution.
  • Details life in exile after the war.
  • Highlights his contributions to ship-building and community.
  • Showcases meticulous research and vivid storytelling.
  • Examines the impact of Loyalists on nationhood.
  • Offers a unique perspective on historical events.
  • Average Rating out of 5:
  • Price Range: $34.95