Project description

Local non-profit organization Les Sentiers de Gore will republish Margaret Cook’s 1969 novel Land Possessed in English and French version. The title of the newly translated French version is: Une terre à nous.

Margaret Cook’s novel describes the lifestyle of Irish pioneers who came to settle in Argenteuil County in the mid-19th century. This is the only novel ever written about the history of this region. This novel inspired a play in 2005, a documentary film in 2021 as well as a biography in 2022. The English version includes a preface by the historian Donald Stewart and the French version a preface by Hélène Beauchamp, author of Margaret Cook’s biography entitled Life As It Is.

The launch will take place in November 2024.

Origins of the project

The idea for the project dates back to 2003 when a neighbour gave Jean-François Hamilton, newly established in Gore Township, a copy of Margaret Cook’s novel published in 1969 and entitled Land Possessed. The history of the novel fascinated him because it describes the places and people who inhabited his region and whose descendants are still alive today.

Les Sentiers de Gore was founded in 2017 and from the very first meetings, the republication of Margaret’s novel was discussed. In 2019, Les Sentiers de Gore staged Don Stewart’s play, Nature’s Victory, inspired by Mrs. Cook’s novel at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Gore in French. In 2021 the non-profit produced the documentary film Nature’s Victory: Margaret Cook and the Pioneers of Gore.

Help us re-publish Margaret Cook’s historical novel Land Possessed!

By visiting our crowdfunding platform on La Ruche, reserve your copy of the novel which will be published in November 2024. You can choose between the original English version or the new French translation which remains very faithful to the original version.

What will the requested amount to be used for?

The amount will be used to cover translation, layout and printing costs, making the novel available to a new audience.

Our goal is to reach $6,000 by June 3, 2024.

Thank you for your support!

Click here to reserve your copy: https://laruchequebec.com/margaretcook-eng

or scan here: