'A surprised and measured satisfaction that so much has been accomplished in the face of such grave difficulties.' This is the theme of Professor Careless's history of Canada, which was originally published in 1953 and first published as this second edition in 1963. It is an account of the emergence of the Canadian nation from the long and enduring efforts to build a community in the North American continent, separate from the United States. The pressures and promises of Canadian geography, the influences stemming from Britain and France, the inter-relations of the French- and English-speaking community, are main forces that have shaped Canada's history. The author put forward this book for Canadian readers, and, not less, for readers in the other countries of the Commonwealth wishing to know how Canada achieved its status in the world.