Writer and archivist Taylor presents a lively history of her home community, Quadra Island at the top of the Georgia Strait off British Columbia. An island with a rollicking past, Quadra is the homeland of the We Wai Kai First Nation and a new home for loggers, gold miners, ranchers, and prostitutes who began arriving in the 19th century. Taylor introduces readers to characters as varied as WeKai (ancestor of the We Wai Kai), the potlatch-busting Indian agent Reginald Heber Pidcock, and Helen Bull, the notorious hotel owner who once survived a point-blank pistol shot. Featuring numerous historical and contemporary photographs of Quadra life, Taylor's book will appeal to readers interested in the history of British Columbia or the Pacific Northwest. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
