Even the title should be longer.

As in, the title of this slim little volume would better be "A Too Short History of Newfoundland and Labrador." Covering more than five hundred years of history, of multiple cultures (first inhabitants, English, and French) in just 140 pages is, of course, impossible, and the book doesn't claim to try. This is an overview. But, because it's so short, it isn't able to give much life to the fascinating scope of Newfoundland history -- and its unique culture that was neither British nor Canadian.

I suppose the result is brief enough that it won't intimidate anyone. It might confuse some people, though ("Zuan Cabotto" for "John Cabot"? All right, Cabot wasn't English... but still). And... there is no index. What good is a history without an index?

There are good authors here. They know their material. I just wish they'd been given enough room to show it. ( )

I was hoping for more information about the west coast of Newfoundland as there was some in Chapter 1 but after that nothing but one mention of Deer Lake and Corner Brook. Both were mentioned as part of the Transcanada.

Luckily I found a book by the local author that did an excellent job on the Gross Morne area! ( )