Far From Home: Canadians and the First World War

When Canada entered the First World War it was a largely rural, colonial nation, dependent socially and economically on the British Empire. By the war's end, it had emerged as an independent, middle power ready to play a role on the world stage.

Far From Home, a companion to the mini-series of the same name, chronicles in a powerful and compelling way the vital role Canadians played in World War I and how events of the war, at home in the trenches, transformed the Canadian identity. It reveals the war through scores of original photographs, newspaper clippings, excerpts from letters and diaries, and quotes from hundreds of Canadians who lived through the nightmare experiences of the trenches. Award-winning author Bill Freeman and acclaimed filmmaker Richard Nielsen unravel the war from several points of view - the political leadership, the military strategists, the women in the factories on the home front, and the soldiers in the trenches. Beginning with the naive optimism of Canadians as they prepared for war and moving through the feelings of despair as the infantry faced the horrors of trench warfare, Freeman and Nielsen demonstrate how Canadian troops by war's end developed into the "shock troops" of the war - and played a significant role in the allied victory.

Too few Canadians today have an appreciation of the major contribution that this country made to the First World War and how that was shaped the Canada we know today. For Canadians of all ages, Far From Home provides a powerful and moving account of this nation's contributions to WWI and fascinating insights into the pivotal nature of the war to our history.

Praise for the television series Far From Home: "- one of the must-see TV events of the year - a rich, sprawling and often bloody tapestry that springs to life with the reminiscences of the soldiers and their families back home."

Star Entertainment

"- a solid, occasionally searing story. What pulverizes the mind is the countless reminders of the sheer-scale of the numbers of dead. We still aren't numb to the numbers -" Report on Business Magazine

"- a splendid evocation of the era. This book, a collaboration between Bill Freeman and Richard Nielsen, carries the story even further."

J.L. Granatstein,

Director and CEO,

Canadian War Museum

Bill Freeman is an award-winning author who has written historical fiction for young people, plays and adult non-fiction. His most recent non-fiction works include: A Magical Place: Toronto Island and its People, and Casa Loma: Toronto’s Fairy-Tale Castle and Its Owner Sir Henry Pellatt, which received the Heritage Toronto Award of Merit in 1999. His series of novels for young people, set in Canada in the latter part of the nineteenth century, known as the Bains Series, now numbers eight books. The series won the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for "A Body of Work." Bill also won the Canada Council Award for Juvenile Literature.

Richard Nielsen has been president of his own independent film company since 1972. He is responsible for producing numerous feature films, documentaries and drama series which highlight Canadian history. Richard has received several awards for Best Canadian Film, a Gemini award for best screenplay, three Genies, a Michener Award and an Emmy nomination for the Irish episode of The Newcomers. Before becoming an independent film producer, he worked as a program organizer, producer, and writer for CBC. Producer and co-writer of the highly-acclaimed six-part series on Canada’s role in World War II, No Price Too High, Richard also co-wrote the script and produced the film series, Far From Home, which is a companion to this book.