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  • Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada
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Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Stephen Bown (Author), Wayne Ward (Narrator), Doubleday Canada (Publisher)
4.5 out of 5 stars 192 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Railroads

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A thrilling new account of the engineering triumph that created a nation

In The Company, his bestselling work of revisionist history, Stephen R. Bown told the dramatic, adventurous and bloody tale of Canada's origins in the fur trade. With Dominion he continues the nation's creation story with an equally gripping and eye-opening account of the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

In the late 19th century, demand for fur was in sharp decline. This could have spelled economic disaster for the venerable Hudson's Bay Company. But an idea emerged in political and business circles in Ottawa and Montreal to connect the disparate British colonies into a single entity that would stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific. With over 3,000 kilometres of track, much of it driven through wildly inhospitable terrain, the CPR would be the longest railway in the world and the most difficult to build. Its construction was the defining event of its era and a catalyst for powerful global forces.

The times were marked by greed, hubris, blatant empire building, oppression, corruption and theft. They were good for some, hard for most, disastrous for others. The CPR enabled a new country, but it came at a terrible price.

Stephen R. Bown again widens our view of the past to include the adventures and hardships of explorers and surveyors, the resistance of Indigenous peoples, and the terrific and horrific work of many thousands of labourers. His vivid portrayal of the powerful forces that were moulding the world in the late 19th century provides a revelatory new picture of modern Canada's creation as an independent state.

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Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 4 minutes
  2. Author
    Stephen Bown
  3. Narrator
    Wayne Ward
  4. Audible release date
    Oct. 10 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Doubleday Canada
  7. ASIN
    B0C15PGDV2
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 4 minutes
Author Stephen Bown
Narrator Wayne Ward
Audible.ca Release Date October 10 2023
Publisher Doubleday Canada
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0C15PGDV2
鶹 Rank

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4.5 out of 5 stars
192 global ratings

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5 out of 5 stars
Great Book
The author does a wonderful job of explaining the history of the Canadian Railroad. If you haven’t read his book “The Company” which is about the early fur trade and the Hudson Bay Company rise and fall…it is also a great read!
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Top reviews from Canada

  • patrick macinnis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Canada on April 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Railways are cool.
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  • OldErn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Every Canadian should read Dominion. Clear, exciting writing. Surprises almost every page.
    Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Dominion: The Railway and the Rise of Canada is one of the most exciting books ever written about Canada. Although I have read many books about Canadian history, I don't remember a better one. I learned many new things: life before the railway, the killing off of the bison, the engineering, political and financial challenges of the CPR, the experience of the Chinese labourers, the injustices metted out to the native peoples, the coming of the Northwest Mounted Police, the Riel Rebellion, the illegal whisky trade, B.C. as a British colony, and much more. The writing feels like an exciting novel. The motivations and quirks of individuals enliven the story. You feel the wrongs, the heroics, and the courage of the people. A wonderful book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Cameron McCaw
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight into Canadian History
    Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed very much but was disappointed that CNR and its role was totally ignore , It too was a Canadian miracle
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bob Lees
    5.0 out of 5 stars A modern take on its subject
    Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A well written, easily accessible book on an interesting subject. Much in the vein of the wonderful books of Pierre Burton.
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Canadian History Illuminated
    Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent history of the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The brilliant personalities surrounding its creation bring the book alive with narrative. Wish there was more from Ottawa and that John A. was a bigger part of the narrative - but overall, excellent. Bown focusing his talents on Canadian history is a gift. Long may it continue.
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  • Dino
    3.0 out of 5 stars DOMINION
    Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    DOMINION: THE RAILWAY (MORE AN LIGHT OVERVIEW) AND THE RISE OF CANADA (NOT REALLY) MORE MORALIZING AND EDITORIAL IN NATURE. COULD HAVE REALIZED A MULTI-VOLUME HISTORY TO COVER WHAT THE TITLE PROMISED.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Tallulah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bought as a present for a friend... but he thoroughly enjoyed this book!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I'm afraid I can't speak to it personally but my friend -- it was a Christmas present -- was very impressed with this book and kept telling me about what he was learning as he read it. He's a military, naval architect type who'd considered working on the rails when he was younger. So I figured it would be a good fit. I heard about it on a radio show interview with the author.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • David
    4.0 out of 5 stars Delivered on time, rough cut on binding
    Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Timely delivery, I’m sure it will be a great book but I haven’t read it yet.
    However, the binding and paper appear to predate the railroad… was this intentional? I’ve attached photos of the rough cut.
    Customer image
    David
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Delivered on time, rough cut on binding

    Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2023
    Timely delivery, I’m sure it will be a great book but I haven’t read it yet.
    However, the binding and paper appear to predate the railroad… was this intentional? I’ve attached photos of the rough cut.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer image
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Newby
    5.0 out of 5 stars The railroad was built by slave labor.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A tell all of what it took to bring east and west together to form a nation.
    Report
  • citoyen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Zechariah 9:10b
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    “Canada’s Bible Verse” - Canada’s claim to “Dominion” status! An excellent book, bringing history (even the “dark” parts) to life!
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  • Frank J.
    5.0 out of 5 stars spectacular book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book is well researched, informative and beautifully written, just like all his other books. As a US citizen, I am enjoying reading and learning about the history of our northern neighbor.
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