In the nineteenth century, sketches describing the prose of life

humorous or tragic incidents, life in the backwoods, travels, hunting, fishing and unique places or characters
frequently appeared in Canadian magazines. Like other forms of Canadian documentary writing, the sketch seemed to fill a need to record imaginatively different aspects of life in Canada. This volume brings to light examples of this important genre, include previously uncollected pieces by such well-known writers as Archibald Lampman, Sara Jeannette Duncan, and Catharine Parr Traill.