Fifteen thousand Canadians were captured during Canada’s twientieth-century wars. They experienced the bewilderment that accompanied the moment of capture, the humiliation of being completely in the captor’s power, and the sense of stagnating in a backwater while the rest of the world moved forward. Jonathan Vance provides the first comprehensive account of how the Canadian government and non-governmental organizations have dealt with the problems of prisoners of war, examining Canada’s role in the formation of aspects of international law, the growth and activities of national and local philanthropic agencies, and the efforts of ex-prisoners to secure compensation for the long-term effects of captivity.

Jonathan F. Vance is a native of Waterdown, Ontario, and the author of many books, including award-winners Death So Noble: Memory, Meaning, and the First World War (1997), Unlikely Soldiers: How Two Canadians Fought the Secret War Against Nazi Occupation (2008), and A History of Canadian Culture (2009).

Jonathan F. Vance's profile page

[Vance] is to be applauded for his painstaking research effort and careful choice of photographs, cartoons and artwork. Our understanding of the politics surrounding POWs during the Boer War, two World Wars and the Korean War is enhanced by the materials surveyed in this handsomely-presented publication, as is our knowledge of the applicable international laws, relief activities, escape techniques, repatriation, war crimes, reintegration into society, and the POW battle for better pensions.

Prince George Citizen

A fascinating study focusing on an underexplored issue. Vance tells this tale in a comprehensive and entertaining fashion.

Choice

Vance’s text provides an exhaustive and meticulous account of the individual experiences of Canadian POWs. Objects of Concern is a meaningful and valuable work, one that should be read not only by those interested in military history, but by those with an interest in the courage and spirit of Canada’s ex-POWs of the twentieth century.

The Canadian Historical Review