The Speeches and Public Letters of Joseph Howe

What it is

This book gathers the speeches and public letters of Joseph Howe, compiled by Joseph Andrew Chisholm and based on an earlier 1858 edition edited by William Annand. It includes a detailed chronology of Howe's career, from his early newspaper work to his political speeches and trials.

Why it matters

As a collection drawn from an edition prepared while Howe was still alive, it preserves his own words on major events, including his famous 1835 libel trial defence and his later political speeches. It is a key resource for understanding Howe's long career as a journalist, orator and politician in Nova Scotia.

Look closer

• Why might it matter that this edition is based on one Annand prepared during Howe's own lifetime, rather than compiled entirely after his death?
• What can the chapter chronology tell you about which parts of Howe's life were considered most important?
• How might selecting and editing someone's speeches shape how later readers understand that person?