Oh Canada! Our Home and Brutal Land
Alberta Montgomery
Description:
Oh Canada: Our Home and Brutal Land is part memoir and part coming of age fiction that tells a story of resilience, hope and well-deserved success. It is a testament to the power of endurance, the importance of friendship and the ability of education to achieve triumph. Combining social commentary, research, and personal reflection, Michelle Swann examines how history, culture, and myth intertwine to shape the Canadian experience. This thought-provoking read challenges complacency and encourages a deeper, more authentic connection to the nation we call home.
Synopsis:
Oh Canada! Our Home and Brutal Land is written with my pen name Alberta Montgomery. It is a searing part fiction and part autobiographical novel that traces the harrowing childhood and coming-of-age of Jane Kensington, a girl growing up in Edmonton amid cycles of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and silence. Through vivid, unflinching prose, the book reveals the brutality Jane endured at the hands of her brother and the failures of adults around her to intervene.
The book does not shy away from difficult scenes of childhood abuse, neglect, and betrayal, yet its power lies in how it transforms trauma into testimony. Readers witness Jane’s resilience as she carves out moments of safety through friendship, school, and imagination. Despite repeated violence, she finds ways to survive—first by retreating inward, then by forging outward paths toward independence. Her journey includes becoming a teen mother, pursuing education, and slowly piecing together a life rooted in strength, dignity, and healing.
Content Overview:
Introduction: Rethinking the Canadian narrative
Chapter 1: The Myth of the North – Landscapes, legends, and the stories we tell ourselves
Chapter 2: Kindness and Contradiction – Politeness, prejudice, and the politics of national identity
Chapter 3: History and Reckoning – Colonialism, Indigenous voices, and the struggle for truth
Chapter 4: Culture and Class – The realities of privilege, poverty, and belonging
Chapter 5: Modern Canada – Immigration, diversity, and the complexities of inclusion
Chapter 6: Our Home and Brutal Land – Facing hard truths and redefining patriotism
Afterword: Hope, responsibility, and the path forward
Why I wrote it:
I wrote Oh Canada! Our Home and Brutal Land because I wanted to create a genre-blending book that was both truthful and engaging—one that could hold the weight of trauma while still being readable, and at times even humorous. Too often, abuse is silenced or hidden, and I wanted to speak openly about my own experiences. As a Canadian, I also felt it was important to challenge the myth of Canada as a flawless land where only good things happen. This book is my way of bringing those realities into the light, with honesty, resilience, and voice.
Reviews:
1. “Swann captures the paradox of a nation celebrated for its beauty yet scarred by its
silences. This book is a brave and unflinching meditation on belonging, brutality, and
survival.” — Margaret Ives, The Northern Review
2. “Rarely does a book so masterfully blend history, memoir, and social critique. Swann
writes with both a scalpel and a paintbrush.” — Caleb Foster, Prairie Books Quarterly
3. “At times poetic, at times devastating, Swann’s prose insists that we face the
contradictions of Canada head-on. A work of conscience and artistry.” — Elena Ruiz,
Global Literature Today
4. “This isn’t just a book—it’s a reckoning. Swann reminds us that patriotism without
honesty is nothing more than myth-making.” — Thomas Leclerc, Montreal Gazette
5. “Reading this felt like walking across a frozen lake: beautiful, haunting, and full of
cracks that make you hold your breath. Absolutely unforgettable.” — Nadine Choi,
Coastline Literary Journal
