"The Canadian Dominion," authored by Oscar D. Skelton, offers an insightful exploration of Canada's evolution from a colonial territory to a self-governing nation within the British Commonwealth. The book is a detailed and exhaustive examination of Canada's route to nationhood. Oscar D. Skelton, a well-known Canadian historian and public servant, dives into the complex political, social, and economic elements that molded Canada's route to dominionhood. Skelton navigates through key events, from the confederation of provinces in 1867 to the establishment of autonomy and international recognition, using a blend of scientific research and simple prose. "The Canadian Dominion" highlights the challenges and triumphs faced by early Canadian leaders, such as Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, as they navigated issues of federalism, linguistic and cultural diversity, and relations with the British Crown through engaging narratives.
Oscar Douglas Skelton was a Canadian political economist and public servant who lived from July 13, 1878 to January 28, 1941. Skelton was a Liberal Party loyalist, international affairs scholar, and patriot who encouraged Canadians to seek independence from the British Empire and to take on "the work of the world." Skelton was born on July 13, 1878, in Orangeville, Ontario, and attended Queen's University in 1896, where he studied classics. His classical language education helped him pass the exams for entrance into Britain's Indian Civil Service (ICS), but he failed the medical test. In 1899, he got a Master of Arts degree and attended Adam Shortt's political science seminars. He worked for The Booklover's Magazine in Philadelphia and married Isabel Murphy in 1904. He subsequently began studying political economy at the University of Chicago, where he listened to Thorstein Veblen's lectures, whom he liked for his "stock of science and philosophy & of first hand knowledge of business affairs."
