The Miramichi Fire

Reviews / Votes

"Engagingly thorough, written in prose that is judicious, always graceful, and frequently wry, this outstanding history will be the primary reference for the Miramichi Fire indefinitely into the future. Alan MacEachern has reviewed all previously known sources, discovered new ones, and mastered them all." Stephen Pyne, Arizona State University "Remarkably, this is the first book to chronicle one of the worst disasters of the nineteenth century. MacEachern has painstakingly assembled news reports and other accounts of the fire, and he relies on witnesses like Paley, Cooney, and other observers from that time to gauge its scale and impact -- and to separate fact from fiction. MacEachern is a reliable and sometimes entertaining narrator as he pops into the story here and there with asides, interpretations, and explanations." Canada's History "This book is a most valuable endeavour. Impressive and astonishing for the great range and wealth of sources on which it rests, The Miramichi Fire throws new light on the history of New Brunswick. Alan MacEachern is an accomplished historian, and I can only admire what he has wrought." Graeme Wynn, University of British Columbia "The Miramichi Fire: A History is a book that any New Brunswick historian should welcome. The author injects a little humour here and there to lighten the otherwise serious academic tone of yet another fine volume from McGill-Queen's University Press. It will remain authoritative for years to come." The Miramichi Reader "MacEachern's accessible writing style makes the book a pleasure to read. The Miramichi Fire benefits enormously from his usual creative turns of phrases and thoughtful prose. In chronicling this benchmark historical event, MacEachern contributes an important chapter to our country's forest history and delivers a valuable lesson in the challenges we face in recounting stories of an environment that is constantly in flux." NiCHE "With wildfires having recently raged in the Amazon, California, New South Wales, Siberia, and elsewhere, the appearance of Alan MacEachern's The Miramichi Fire is a timely reminder of earlier conflagrations that attracted global attention. MacEachern, an accomplished environmental historian at Western University, has spent sixteen years exploring New Brunswick's experience with forest fires almost two centuries ago. His commitment to the topic shows in a book that is accessibly written, wonderfully sourced, and often a page-turner." Literary Review of Canada