Read more
"Thoroughly entertaining, beautifully illustrated ... An utterly enchanting trip back in time." -- Booklist "This tribute is a wonderfully rich volume on [the canoe's] history in North America ... Adeptly written and wonderfully illustrated with over 400 photographs and maps." -- Library Journal The canoe was essential to the early exploration of North America. Today, it is a vital link to the natural environment and vast wilderness, still widely used for recreation, transportation and sport.
The Canoe is the definitive history of the construction and use of the canoe, kayak, dugout and umiak in North America. The book covers the canoe's origins among Native peoples, its quick adoption by European settlers, its development from a working vessel to a recreational craft. Rare archival images, maps, artwork and stunning photographs of vintage canoes are included.
Produced with the support and collaboration of scholars and museums throughout the world,
The Canoe also features:
- High-tech sport canoes and kayaks used in contemporary Olympic Games
- 400 beautiful images of canoe craftsmanship
- Step-by-step photos and explanations for building a traditional bark canoe
- Profile of the famous model-builder, Tappan Adney
- Detailed maps, glossary, source list and index.
About the author
John Jennings, professor at Trent University and co-editor of The Canoe in Canadian Cultures, led the creation of this book with support from the Canadian Canoe Museum. He brought together 12 experts in canoe and kayak scholarship, including Eugene Arima, Hallie E. Bond, David Finch, and James Raffan. Jennings was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2019.
