Frances BackhouseReseñas

Gr 4–8—Backhouse spent five months in British Columbia's North Coast, located in Ts'msyen territory, learning
"from the Gwich'in to the Diné, and from the Niitsitapi to the Yup'ik, each group has its own grizzly-bear stories,
songs, and dances." This defining text on a misunderstood species blends science, heart, and deep knowledge.

Very interesting. I would warn animal lovers who are squeamish that the hats in the title isn’t there due to a passing observation. While the overall theme is of interconnectedness and a paean to beavers, a good amount of time is spent with trappers, furriers and hat makers.

Fascinating history of the Beaver. No, I am not kidding, it's really quite interesting. if you don't have a high tolerance for the fur trade though, it may exceed your squeamishness factor -- not that it glorifies that trade by any means, but the author does really investigate as much as she can about it.

It was ok, but I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't really like it as much as other natural history books. Perhaps it was the first person perspective as the author learned more about beavers? Otherwise, a good overview of the relationship between beavers and people in a historical, fashionable, and ecological way, with a short sidestep into the paleontology of now extinct species.

Thanks to ECW and the 49th Shelf for providing me with a free copy of Once They Were Hats.

Honestly, my knowledge of beavers was minimal before picking up this book, which is kind of a shameful thing to admit as a Canadian. I knew they built dams, I knew they were crucial to the fur trade, I knew (and kind of wish I didn't) about how they were used in perfume and flavouring. But that was it.

Once They Were Hats delves into the history of beavers -- and how intrinsically linked they are with the history of Canada. Filled to the brim with fascinating information about beavers and their ancestors, this book gave me a much bigger appreciation for this majestic creature.

Just finished this one after reading it part before and part after a trip to the Klondike/Yukon region. Very well written and relates some fascinating stories not often heard in other sources.

Francis Backhouse writes about beavers and their relationship with man. Valued for their waterproof fur, they were hunted and trapped to a fraction of their prior numbers, and entirely wiped out in some areas. The book is well-organized, beginning with how extensive beavers were and their ancient ancestors. She moves on to the trapping activities and early conservationists who sought to manage beavers in a sustainable manner. Interestingly, she covers how their fur was used to make hats, the current status of the fur trade, and even details her own experience skinning a beaver. But for me, the most interesting part (and what I was really interested in all along) was the ecology and the way in which beavers fit into the environment. As a parallel, my mother-in-law recently had beavers move into a stream on her property and was amazed at the changes in the birds and other wildlife that suddenly began appearing. Unfortunately, it wasn't as compatible with the horses they graze and the dam had to go, and Backhouse gives plenty of examples of the problems beavers can cause for people and in our communities. A very interesting book, but I wish it had included much more about the ecology. (I received an advance copy from the publisher.)

Such great photos!

In 1896 gold was discovered in the Klondike region of Canada's Yukon. Due to the remoteness of the area, it took another eleven months for news of the discovery to reach the outside world, triggering the gold rush that would last only a few years.

The 1890’s, sometimes called the gay 90’s, nurtured the seed of independence and freedom in the heart of many women. This book contains short biographical sketches of women from many backgrounds that used that newfound freedom for the adventure that was the Klondike.

It briefly tells their tales beginning with Kate Carmack, a native woman whose husband and brother s made the first strike. It continues with sketches of women from all walks of life: those following husbands and sweethearts; those who left husbands, children to follow their dream; women who became entrepreneurs such as store owners and miners; prostitutes and dance hall girls; Catholic nuns and members of the Salvation Army; teachers, doctors and nurses; rich tourists who brought canaries and pedigreed dogs while they ‘did’ the Klondike while they toured its sights.

Personally, I would have enjoyed more details of their day to day life and the unique challenges they met in this Arctic region just south of the Arctic Circle. I most enjoyed the stories of women in their ground length skirts (let no ankle show! although bloomers were acceptable until they got into town) as they climbed the daunting Chilikoot Pass which was the most direct route, although it was also the most strenuous. Mention was made of enduring sixty below zero temperatures and building fires on the ground in order to melt the earth underneath enough to mine. All in all, though I was left short wanting more details of their unique physical environment and how these amazing women met its challenges.½