The Backwoods of Canada

work by Traill

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June 17, 2026

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The Backwoods of Canada (1836) by Catharine Parr Traill is a significant work in Canadian literature, considered a precursor to the Canadian nature essay. Based on letters to her mother, the book offers detailed descriptions of frontier life in Upper Canada (now Ontario).1

Traill, who emigrated from England in 1832 with her sister Susanna Strickland Moodie, aimed to provide a more favorable portrayal of the New World compared to Moodie's Roughing It in the Bush. Traill's writing celebrated the Canadian landscape and offered practical advice for settlers, contributing to her reputation as a nature writer and naturalist.123

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Canadian literature
From settlement to 1900
…discourage prospective emigrants, but Traill’s Backwoods of Canada (1836) presents a more favourable picture of the New World.
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…discourage prospective emigrants, but Traill’s Backwoods of Canada (1836) presents a more favourable picture of the New World.
Read More

Catharine Parr Traill
The Backwoods of Canada (1836), which was based on a series of letters written to her mother in England, was the forerunner of the Canadian nature essay. This book was followed by The Female Emigrant’s Guide, and Hints on Canadian Housekeeping (1854) and The Canadian…
Read More
The Backwoods of Canada (1836), which was based on a series of letters written to her mother in England, was the forerunner of the Canadian nature essay. This book was followed by The Female Emigrant’s Guide, and Hints on Canadian Housekeeping (1854) and The Canadian…
Read More