
Transcriber's Note:
BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riverside Press Cambridge 1920 - COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - FOREWORD
From drawings by Dr. Grenfell - LE PETIT NORD - OR ANNALS OF A LABRADOR HARBOUR
The Riverside Press CAMBRIDGE · MASSACHUSETTS U.S.A.
A vivid portrait of life on the rugged Labrador coast unfolds through a series of true‑to‑life vignettes, each renamed to protect the privacy of its colourful inhabitants. The narrator, a physician‑missionary, recounts his arrival in a remote harbour, the relentless fog, ice‑filled seas and the spirited locals whose daily battles with nature are both harrowing and oddly comic. Sketches of characters— from a pipe‑loving skipper to a mischievous child plotting like a “fat pig” — bring the community’s quirks and resilience to life.
The tone blends gentle humor with the stark realities of early‑20th‑century frontier life, offering listeners a window into a world where duty, faith, and survival intersect. Through candid reflections and lively illustrations, the story captures the intimacy of a small town where one person often wears many hats, and where every hardship is met with a stubborn, hopeful grin. It invites you to share in the everyday triumphs and trials of a place far from the comforts of “Merrie England.
Full title
Le Petit Nord or, Annals of a Labrador Harbour
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (162K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Jeannie Howse and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team Updated: 2023-01-08.
Release date
2006-10-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1885–1938
Her writing opens a vivid window onto early 20th-century Labrador, blending firsthand observation with a warm, personal sense of place. Best known for co-authoring Le Petit Nord, she helps bring the world around the Grenfell mission to life.
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A science writer and comedian who loves turning big ideas into entertaining stories, she writes nonfiction that makes history, human behavior, and the odd corners of genius feel lively and approachable.
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