Points of entry to Montreal: The History of a North American City
Faced with a book on the sheer scale of this one, it Can be tempting as a reader to say something like “Uh, I think I’ll make this a project for later. Like, maybe when I retire.” One way around that is to Choose a few bite-sized readings by theme, and take it from there. Here are some suggestions: IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
Successive waves of new arrivals in the 20th and 21st centuries — first from Europe and increasingly from Africa, Asia and Latin America — have staked their claim to a share of Montreal’s identity and character. Look up any of them in the book’s index for a primer on their impact.
WOMEN
Yes, it might seem obvious that a group comprising half the population would play an important part in a comprehensive history. But a Catholic context provides an especially dramatic arc. The history of women’s voting rights — and lack thereof — is a good place to start.
BRIDGES
An island is less of an island when it can be accessed by car and train; beginning with the Victoria Bridge in 1859 and intensifying with the Jacques Cartier in 1930, bridges brought Montreal into the full swing of continental trade and travel, making today’s metropolis possible.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
The book’s many period photographs of Montreal cityscapes will have readers thinking then-and-now thoughts. In some cases, like the intersection of St-Urbain and St-Viateur streets, the scene has hardly changed in a century. In others, like the corner of Parc and Mount-Royal avenues, you have to look close to see the connection — in this case, a still-extant drinking fountain on the northwest corner of what was then called Fletcher’s Field.