Description

pp. 368, B/W illustrations. gift plate on verso of front cover and presentation plate on fep. “On the prairies, the small town rests comfortably in the collective memory as a setting of childhood innocence, social familiarity and stability. Prairie towns are historically important as symbols of social values, as the bridge between country and city, and as important urban centers in their own right. While a few studies have looked at specific towns, Donald Wetherell and Irene Kmet’s study is the first to create a composite portrait of Alberta small towns from 1880 until 1947. Focusing on nine representative towns in Alberta, the authors analyze the role of the main street in small town business, social and intellectual life, Town Life enriches our understanding of the evolution of the prairies and of Canada’s urban history.”