I read to try to understand the world. To me, that means trying to understand the people who make up the world. History, science — they all happen via people. As a historical analysis of Acadie, The Acadians might be a very fine book. I'm not prepared to judge that. However, for layperson, reading to try and understand the story of the Acadians (a story which is part of my own story) through the experiences of the Acadians themselves, the book was disappointing. Maybe I've been spoiled by the Simon Winchesters and the Laura MacDonalds of the world, by authors who make me feel as though I've experienced some of the pivotal events of the past. Perhaps it is unfair to demand that history be presented in such an unorthodox and subjective way. Maybe the problem is with the reader, and not the book.

The Acadians: In Search of a Homeland delivers exactly what it promises: a checklist of the significant moments for Acadie and the Acadian diaspora since the 1600s. It is full of facts and dates and names and places, and is sure to be fascinating for those who like that sort of thing. It is not a book for those who don't.