Beginning in 1880, thousands of young, upper-class British men with few prospects were sent to the Canadian West to distance them from British society. Still supported by their families, thus earning them the title "remittance men," these men set out to continue their lives of leisure in this new land.

With education, respectable breeding and the belief "from birth that they were superior beings," the remittance men descended upon Western Canada with expectations of accomplishing something great and increasing their wealth. In reality, they hunted, played games, courted women, and enjoyed distinguished pursuits that squandered their parents' money and made hard-working Canadians raise their eyebrows.

"'Remittance man' was meant to be a disparaging term. It reflected the fact that these young men had been sent to the colonies to spare their families continuing embarrassment or shame. At home they had been scoundrels, dreamers, and second sons without future prospects. Perhaps in...the Canadian West they would make something of themselves. If they didn't, at least they would be far enough away that little disgrace would fall upon their families." --Mark Zuehlke

Though their era in Western Canada was short, 1880-1914, "they left an indelible mark perpetuated by the stories and legends that sprung up around them."

In Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons, first published fifteen years ago, Mark Zuehlke traces the path of the remittance men through Western Canada, highlighting their adventures, limited successes and glorious failures.

Hailed by Jack Granatstein as Canadas leading popular military historian and short-listed for both the 2007 and 2013 Pierre Berton Award for popularizing Canadian history, Mark Zuehlke is the author of 26 books, including 14 devoted to military history. Tragedy at Dieppe is the latest in his bestselling Canadian Battle Series, which includes Ortona, The Liri Valley, The Gothic Line, Juno Beach Operation Husky, Holding Juno, Breakout from Juno, Terrible Victory, and On to Victory. He is also the co-author of The Canadian Military Atlas.

Zuehlke first began writing about the role Canadians played in World War II after discussing the Battle of Ortona with several veterans following a Remembrance Day ceremony in Kelowna, B.C. Discovering no book had been written on this pivotal battle, he decided to fill that gap, which resulted in the publication of Ortona: Canadas Epic Worl

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“It is an intriguing story, and in typical Zuehlke fashion, it is well researched, well written and well worth reading, especially as one of the more famous remittance men – Jimmy Simpson – lived in our own backyard.”

Rob Alexander, Rocky Mountain Outlook

"It will make an entertaining summer read, especially for readers who live in some of the communities across the west where the remittance men had their brief turn on the Canadian stage."
~ Tom Sandborn, Vancouver Sun, July 2016