Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush
Susanna Moodie
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
As a middle class Englishwoman Moodie did not particularly enjoy "the bush", as she called it. She and her husband moved to Belleville in 1840, which she referred to as "the clearings". Here she described urban life, including religion, art, and education, especially as compared to relative lack of these things in "the bush". She studied the Family Compact and became sympathetic to the moderate reformers led by Robert Baldwin, while remaining critical of radical reformers such as William Lyon Mackenzie. This caused problems for her husband, who shared her views, but, as sheriff of Belleville, had to work with members and supporters of the Family Compact. (Summary from Wikipedia)
This was read as a duet by Cori Samuel and Esther. Joined in section 9 by Jim Mowatt, and in section 12 by Glen Hallstrom. (11 hr 20 min)
Chapters
Introduction | 14:33 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Belleville | 1:08:58 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Local Improvements--Sketches of Society | 58:56 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Free Schools--Thoughts on Education | 23:23 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Amusements | 29:22 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Trials of a Travelling Musician | 24:47 | Read by Cori Samuel |
The Singing Master | 44:27 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Camp Meetings | 46:39 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Wearing Mourning for the Dead | 30:18 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Odd Characters | 27:45 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
Grace Marks | 46:12 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Michael Macbride | 37:05 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Jeanie Burns | 24:06 | Read by LibriVox Volunteers |
Lost Children | 17:24 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Toronto | 33:54 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Lunatic Asylum | 26:35 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Provincial Agricultural Show | 28:50 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Niagara | 46:03 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Goat Island | 27:23 | Read by Cori Samuel |
Conclusion | 24:04 | Read by Cori Samuel |