Interview: Jean Barman, On the Line with Joseph Planta (thecommentary.ca)

Jean Barman

Monday, 04 August 2008

As British Columbia celebrates its 150th anniversary, the historian Jean Barman talks to Joseph Planta about her new book, British Columbia: Spirit of the People (Harbour, 2008), a coffee table retrospective of the province's history and people.

British Columbia: Spirit of the People by Jean Barman. (Harbour, 2008)

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: British Columbia: Spirit of the People

You will need the Real Player to listen to the interviews. If you don't have it, you can download it at http://www.real.com.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The historian Jean Barman joins me now. She's just written a remarkable history of British Columbia in a splendid looking new coffee table book, British Columbia: Spirit of the People. Commissioned by the provincial government, it explores the history of BC's ten diverse regions. With neat historical and lush photographs in colour, it captures not only the landscape, but also the people of this province from its early days through to today. Jean Barman is professor emerita at the University of British Columbia, and has written six previous books including the indispensible The West Beyond the West, and most recently Stanley Park's Secret. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. British Columbia: Spirit of the People is published by Harbour and retails for $49.95. The foreword was written by the Premier, Gordon Campbell. It is a great way to look back at BC as it turns 150 this year. Please welcome once again to the Planta: On the Line program, Jean Barman; Good morning, Professor Barman.