Best Canadian Historical Biographies Books of 2025

"Hold the Line: My Story from the Heart of the Freedom Convoy" is a captivating memoir by Tamara Lich, the woman who organized the Canadian trucker convoy that made international headlines. The book offers a firsthand account of the events surrounding the convoy, including the media's portrayal of the truckers as Russian agents and the government's response. Lich, a Metis and proud Albertan, was even jailed for daring to criticize the government. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian history and politics, and for those who want to hear the truth from the woman who inspired the world and made Justin Trudeau blink.

The Twenty-Ninth Day: Surviving a Grizzly Attack in the Canadian Tundra is a captivating true-life wilderness survival story about a seventeen-year-old boy's near-fatal encounter with a grizzly bear during a six-hundred-mile canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness. The book is a Midwest Indie Bestseller and a Wallstreet Journal Bestseller Finalist for the 2020 Minnesota Book Award. The story is a coming-of-age tale filled with inspiring subarctic landscapes, thrilling riverine paddling, and a trial by fire of the human spirit. Overall, this well-written book is a solid addition to the genre of wilderness survival tales and will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson's Bay Empire by Stephen R. Bown is a thrilling account of modern Canada's creation, through the dramatic and complex story of the Hudson's Bay Company. Bown's detailed and vivid narrative sheds light on the Company's transformation from a small fur trading business to a powerful political and economic force that dominated northern and western North America. The book's focus on the Company's impact on Indigenous groups, as well as the ruthless dominance of Governor George Simpson, sets it apart from earlier histories. Overall, The Company is an absorbing and nuanced read that offers a fresh perspective on Canada's origins.

The Women of Ville-Marie is a well-researched history book that sheds light on the lives of French women who settled in seventeenth-century Montréal. The book emphasizes the bravery and determination of these women who left their homes to establish a new life in New France. The author's focus on the women's stories provides a unique perspective on the founding of Montréal and the challenges faced by the early settlers. Overall, this book is an excellent addition to Canadian historical biographies and a must-read for those interested in the history of Montréal.

The Curse of Oak Island by Randall Sullivan is a captivating account of the world's longest treasure hunt. The book follows the history of Oak Island and the numerous attempts made by generations of treasure hunters to unlock its secrets. From pirates' treasure to Marie Antoinette's lost jewels, the Holy Grail, and even Shakespeare's plays, the Money Pit remains an enigma. Sullivan presents a well-researched and balanced narrative, documenting the Michigan brothers Marty and Rick Lagina's latest attempt to solve the mystery. The Curse of Oak Island is a must-read for all travelers and explorer biography enthusiasts.

The Curve of Time by M Wylie Blanchet is an astonishing adventure story and biography of a woman who, after being left a widow in 1927, took her five children on a 25-foot boat to explore the coastal waters of British Columbia. Blanchet acted as the captain, navigator, engineer, and mother, leading her crew through encounters with tides, fog, storms, rapids, cougars, and bears. This beautifully illustrated hardcover edition is a timeless keepsake that provides a sensitive and compelling account of their journeys. Overall, this book is a superlative text of travel writing and of the Pacific Northwest that should not be missed.

An extraordinary illustrated biography of John Linklater, a renowned game warden and skilled woodsman of Anishinaabeg, Cree, and Scottish ancestry, and his wife, Tchi-Ki-Wis, an extraordinary craftswoman of the Lac La Croix First Nation. Making the Carry traces their life navigating great changes in the Quetico-Superior region along the U.S.-Canada border in the early twentieth century. Complete with rarely seen photographs, the book provides an intimate portrait of Métis people. The book is a must-read for those interested in Native American & Aboriginal Biographies Books.

Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders is a beautifully curated book that presents the cultural teachings of nineteen elders to new generations. The book highlights the importance of ethical reciprocal relationships, language revitalization, family values, and storytelling. The interviews with elders also shed light on the traumatic experiences of their communities. The book is a rich visual feast that honors Pacific Northwest Indigenous life and celebrates the wisdom of Indigenous elders, cultures, and languages. Overall, Jesintel is an insightful and generous gift to anyone who wants to learn more about the Coast Salish people and their territories.

The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey is a captivating and inspiring book that tells the story of Linda Greenlaw, the world's only female swordfish boat captain. Greenlaw's month-long swordfishing trip over 1,000 nautical miles out to sea is a study in narrowly averted disaster and highlights the dangers of controlling five sleep-, women-, and booze-deprived young fishermen in close quarters. However, Greenlaw's love of fishing and her obsessive attention to detail make her a good captain, regardless of gender. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the adventure, danger, and beauty of life at sea.

Travels with Tocqueville Beyond America is a fascinating intellectual biography of Alexis de Tocqueville, focused on his travels beyond his famous journey to the United States. Author Jeremy Jennings follows Tocqueville's voyages across Europe, North Africa, and North America, shedding new light on his political and cultural commentary. Despite his ill health and political responsibilities, Tocqueville never stopped learning and trying to understand political communities. Drawing on correspondence, published writings, speeches, and contemporaries' recollections, this book is a panoramic combination of biography, history, and political theory. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Tocqueville and his travels.