Life In The Clearings Versus The Bush

by Susanna Moodie

Overview

Life In The Clearings Versus The Bush is a historical exploration of the contrasts between life in Canadian settlements and the harsh realities of wilderness living. Drawing from the author's personal experiences as an emigrant, the narrative delves into the struggles of settlers in Canada, focusing on their disillusionments and challenges in adapting to the frontier. The protagonist reflects on the difficulties encountered in the Canadian bush, where high hopes for a better life were often thwarted by the harsh conditions. The story also touches on the desire for social progress, as the author contemplates the differences between settled communities and the untamed wilderness. Amidst this struggle, the protagonist yearns for moments of respite, as shown in her visit to Niagara Falls after years of hardship. With vivid descriptions of nature and insightful reflections on the evolving social landscape, the work highlights the emotional journey of settlers, underscoring both the beauty and difficulties of life in early Canada.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789370428515
Publisher:	Double 9 Books
Publication date:	03/01/2025
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.58(d)

About the Author

English-born Susanna Moodie, who lived in Canada from 6 December 1803 to 8 April 1885, wrote about her experiences as an immigrant in what was then a British province. On the banks of the River Waveney in Suffolk, Susanna Moodie was born in Bungay. In a family of authors that also included Agnes Strickland, Jane Margaret Strickland, and Catharine Parr Traill, she was the youngest sibling. In addition to publishing books about Spartacus and Jugurtha, she wrote her first children's book in 1822 and other children's stories in London. She participated in the Anti-Slavery Society in London and transcribed Mary Prince's story, a former slave from the Caribbean. She wed retired officer and Napoleonic War veteran John Moodie on 4 April 1831. Moodie immigrated to Upper Canada in 1832 together with her husband, a British Army officer, and daughter. Her brother Samuel Strickland (1804 1867) worked as a surveyor on a farm in Douro Township, close to Lakefield, north of Peterborough, where the family eventually lived. The farm now serves as a museum and houses antiquities. The museum, which Samuel founded, was formerly an Anglican church and has a view of Susanna's former canoeing spot on the Otonabee River.