A brief history of the War of 1812, the settlement of what is now the province of Ontario, Canada and the legend of Laura Secord are all cover in this volume. Laura Secord's name is more famous because of the chocolate stores that bear her name then for her historic walk. While there is limited documentation that she really did warn the British forces at Beaver Dams that the American invading army was planning a surprise attack, there is enough including signed declarations by two British officers that she indeed deliver such a warning to give her the credit. MacDonald does attempt to separate out some of the myths that have grown around this story. Apparently Laura did not shepard a cow through the swamps as a cover for her trip. ( )