Nothing to Write Home About: British Family Correspondence and the Settler Colonial Everyday in British Columbia

Settler colonialism is a growing topic of discussion, and Nothing to Write Home About examines the settler colonial significance of British family correspondence between the UK and British Columbia from 1858 to 1914. It provides insights into epistolary topics, everyday concerns, and the importance of what correspondents chose not to write about, arguing that these letters played a critical role in laying the foundations of a powerful, personal settler colonial order that continues to structure the province today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2019
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

In the realm of growing interests in reconciliation and decolonization, settler colonialism has become a prominent topic of discussion in political, public, and academic spheres.
"Nothing to Write Home About" is a comprehensive examination of the settler colonial implications of British family correspondence exchanged between the United Kingdom and British Columbia between 1858 and 1914. By analyzing thousands of letters penned by dozens of correspondents, the book provides valuable insights into various epistolary themes, including trans-imperial family relationships, settler daily concerns such as boredom and food, and the significance of what correspondents chose not to write about. Through the analysis of both the content and the conspicuous, loaded silences of these letters, Laura Ishiguro explores how Britons utilized the post to navigate the family separations inherent to their migration and to comprehend British Columbia as an uncontested settler home.
This book makes a compelling argument that these letters and their writers played a crucial role in establishing the foundations of a powerful and personal settler colonial order that continues to shape the province today.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 167 x 236 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780774838436