Cape Bretoniana

Book excerpt: Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island is a beautiful region with a unique community whose history and ethnic composition have resulted in the evolution of a powerful sense of identity and place. While outsiders may think only of the island's perennial economic woes and long economic dependence on coal mining and steel production, it is also the home of a rich, vibrant, and distinct culture. Brian Douglas Tennyson's Cape Bretoniana is the first bibliography to gather together all known publications relating to the history, culture, economy, and politics of Cape Breton Island. With more than 6000 entries, it not only provides a comprehensive listing of publications and post-graduate theses, but also detailed annotations on the listings. Each entry lists the author, title, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, volume and issue number in the case of periodicals, and page references, followed by a brief description of the item. Cape Breton has never been so thoroughly documented. This bibliography will help to ensure that ? even in a world becoming increasingly homogenized by the forces of globalization ? unique cultural identities like Cape Breton's can be preserved and nurtured.