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Blue Vase Books

The Last Spike: The Great Railway, 1881-1885

The Last Spike: The Great Railway, 1881-1885

Author: Berton, Pierre

$6.29
$6.29
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Condition: Good

paperback

In stock
In the four years between 1881 and 1885, Canada was forged into one nation by the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Last Spike reconstructs the incredible story of how some 2,000 miles of steel crossed the continent in just five years -- exactly half the time stipulated in the contract. Pierre Berton recreates the adventures that were part of this vast undertaking: the railway on the brink of bankruptcy, with one hour between it and ruin; the extraordinary land boom of Winnipeg in 1881-1882; and the epic tale of how William Van Horne rushed 3,000 soldiers over a half-finished railway to quell the Riel Rebellion.

Dominating the whole saga are the men who made it all possible -- a host of astonishing characters: Van Horne, the powerhouse behind the vision of a transcontinental railroad; Rogers, the eccentric surveyor; Onderdonk, the cool New Yorker; Stephen, the most emotional of businessmen; Father Lacombe, the black-robed voyageur; Sam Steele, of the North West Mounted Police; Gabriel Dumont, the Prince of the Prairies; more than 7,000 Chinese workers, toiling and dying in the canyons of the Fraser Valley; and many more -- land sharks, construction geniuses, politicians, and entrepreneurs -- all of whom played a role in the founding of the new Canada west of Ontario.

ISBN: 0385658419

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Note on Condition

Most of the items in our store are used. The items condition is indicated at the top of the product page. Please refer to the following condition notes:

  • Used - Good: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.

  • Used- Acceptable: The item is very worn but continues to work perfectly. Signs of wear can include aestetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners, and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing (age related spots and browning). May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.

  • Used-Ex-Library (Good/Acceptable): Former library book with the usual stamps, stickers, and labels. See Good/Acceptable notes for more detail.

  • Used- Very Good: Book has little sign of wear or use

  • New- Brand new, unread book

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