Vignettes of Nova Scotia native-born sons & daughters, notable immigrants, fascinating visitors & significant historical events

Fascinating history in small bites: by A D Boutilier, ISBN 9781989564233 216 pp, -$21.95

Vignettes are short, significant, stories that focus on a single person, place, or event. Nova Scotians have longed for stories of their province’s past that came in smaller packages; most busy people don’t have time to devote to the three-hundred-page historical expositions that abound. Most assuredly, the work of scholars is important, but if history is going to have a broad appeal or reach beyond the academic world, the servings of Nova Scotia’s story must fit the times, and that often means smaller portions.

The author has sought history Nova Scotians may have forgotten, or perhaps have never known. Vignettes spans the development and growth of Nova Scotia from the earliest Colonial times (1606 in Port-Royale) to well into the 20th Century. Each of these stories is true, and each is relevant. And each one firmly connects us to the broader national story ... and can be read with confidence that one is learning true Nova Scotia history and about those who contributed to it. We also hope everyone will read these short stories for personal enjoyment as well.

There are 71 stories in this publication; fifty-four are about individuals great and small; the rest are stories and events help create Nova Scotia as it is today – many very positive, others tragic, but all are important in their own way. This book also covers more than 30 distinct communities in Nova Scotia representing more than 15 separate counties and includes ample stories of famous women; and notable cultural groups: Mi’Kmaq, African-Nova Scotians and Acadians. The cover is worth exploring alone!

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Alex D. Boutilier was born in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton and grew up in the shadow of the Princess Colliery. His interest in theatre began as a teenager when he was involved in several stage productions while attending high school. In the early1990s he acted in performances by the Dartmouth Players. Alex’s ancestors were among the Foreign Protestants, or Huguenots from Montébeliard and France, who arrived in Halifax in 1752 and were intimately involved in the founding of Lunenburg

He has a keen interest in the culture, customs, and traditions of diverse societies having travelled extensively throughout England and France visiting medieval churches, museums, archeological sites and ancient ruins. Alex has also toured all of the British and French colonial fortifications in the Maritimes and eastern Canada. Alex believes that history is not fixed in time; that it is constantly changing as new information is uncovered/revealed. His preferred authors include social historians, such as J. C. Furnas; cultural writers such as Arthur Koestler; the literary critic, Harold Bloom; and his favourite playwright is the great bard, William Shakespeare. Alex also loves the study of, and the research connected with, social history, as well as the writing of it, all of which he finds highly informative and “unexpectedly hilarious”.

Alex studied at Saint Mary’s University and graduated with BA degrees in English and Psychology, as well as an MA in Atlantic Canada Studies. From 1998 to 2005, he was an instructor for the Saint Mary’s University Writing Centre. His first publication on the Halifax Citadel was based on his extensive and detailed research done for his Master’s thesis. His lifelong occupation was in sales and marketing for several industrial corporations.

This is his fourth trade publication in seven years – this one involving 51 vignettes of noteworthy and fascinating persons and 17 individual stories of Nova Scotia that impacted her history. With three previous titles involving more than 900 pages of social history of the Colonial period in this province, that detailed research not only provided the setting for the politics, governance and critical events within Vignettes – it also provided the context for half of the individuals presented in this book. and who made a critical impact upon Nova Scotia society between 1606 to well into the Twentieth Century.