Old Square Toes and his Lady: The Life of James and Amelia Douglas
TouchWood Editions
Description
At the pinnacle of his career, Sir James Douglas, fur trader and colonial governor, was knighted by order of Queen Victoria, and greatly enjoyed the pomp of his position. Considering his modest beginnings as a mixed-race baby in South America, this lofty status was remarkable.
The life of Amelia, companion throughout James' long rise, saw even more surprising changes. Amelia was of mixed blood too, being part-Cree, part-Scot. She never left the northern Canadian forests until she married James, but ended up a respected lady of the Empire.
Between them, James and Amelia Douglas knew everybody who was anybody in western North America. Their lives saw astonishing contrasts, from crossing North America by canoe to touring Europe by train, from Native uprisings to frantic gold rushes. They met with grief as well as glory, losing seven of their beloved children. Old Square-Toes and His Lady is a story of the adventure, heartbreak and devotion that lies at the roots of western Canada.
Author: John Adams
