For Elise

Oriele Vane Veldhaus had a reading at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Grant to promote her book about her great grandmother, Elise Vane, who immigrated to Canada in the 1860's and homesteaded near Treesbank, Manitoba under extremely strange and tough conditions. Oriele spent almost 10 years researching archives, family letters, legal documents and other primary sources to flush out accurate details of Elise's life. The book, though long at almost 500 pages, is an extremely interesting read and preserves history of the time as well as the culture, traditions and treatment of women. Very revealing. Well done Orielle!