Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim: Rebellion Times in the Canadas

This volume paints a vivid picture of the turbulent year 1837 in the Canadian colonies, when political discontent erupted into open rebellion. Using veteran recollections, official reports, and newspaper accounts, the authors blend everyday details with the broader forces of ideology and grievance. Their narrative balances scholarly care with occasional wry humor, revealing how ordinary people experienced both the gravity and the absurdity of the moment.

The book draws on a wide array of sources—parliamentary debates, pamphlets, and local testimonies—from towns stretching from Sarnia to Quebec, giving a textured sense of the era’s social climate. It examines the roots of the conflict, the split between Loyalist and Reformist factions, and the early skirmishes that marked the opening act of the uprising. By presenting both the grave and the gay aspects of the period, it lets listeners hear the voices of a time when myth and memory intertwine, without revealing the later outcomes.