Overview

Before it made global headlines as the small town that burned down during a record-breaking heat wave in June 2021, while briefly the hottest place on Earth, Lytton, British Columbia, had a curious past. Named for the author of the infamous line, 'It was a dark and stormy night,' Lytton was also where Peter Edwards, organised-crime journalist and author of over a dozen books, spent his childhood. Although only about 500 people lived in Lytton, Peter liked to joke that he was only the second-best writer to come from his tiny hometown. His grade-school classmate's nephew Kevin Loring, a member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation at Lytton First Nation, had grown up to be a Governor General's Award-winning playwright. The Nlaka'pamux called Lytton 'The Centre of the World,' a view Buddhists would share in the late twentieth century, as they set up a temple just outside town. In modern times, many outsiders would seek shelter there, often people who just didn't fit anywhere else and were hoping for a little anonymity in the mountains. You'll meet a whole cast of them in this book. A gold rush in 1858 saw conflict with a wave of Californians come to a head with the Canyon War at the junction of the mighty Fraser and Thompson rivers, one that would have changed the map of what was soon to become Canada had the locals lost. The Nlaka'pamux lost over thirty lives in that conflict, as did the American gold seekers. A century later, Lytton hadn't changed much. It was always a place where the troubles of the world seemed to land, even if very few people knew where it was. This book is the story of Lytton, told from a shared perspective, of an Indigenous playwright and the journalist son of a settler doctor who quietly but sternly pushed back against the divisions that existed between populations (Dr. Edwards gladly took a lot of salmon as payment for his services back in the 1960s). Portrayed with all the warmth, humour and sincerity of small-town life, the colourful little town that burned to the ground could be every town's warning if we don't take seriously what this unique place has to teach us.

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9781039006157

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PRAISE FOR LYTTON: ""Lytton: Climate Change, Colonialism and Life Before the Fire by Peter Edwards and Kevin Loring is both a sobering history and terrifying glimpse into the future."" Gregor Craigie, author of Our Crumbling Foundation ""[T]he book’s themes...resonate intensely.... Including personal stories and interviews makes the analysis more relatable and engaging. These narratives add depth and emotional resonance,... This urgent call to action should instill a sense of responsibility and motivation in the readers.... Effectively illuminates the critical issues facing Lytton and similar communities. It is a compelling read for anyone interested in the ongoing dialogue about climate change, colonialism, and community resilience. I highly recommend the book to understand the significance of this event."" The British Columbia Review “A town with a fascinating history...effectively told by former residents Kevin Loring, an award-winning playwright, and Peter Edwards, a true-crime author.... Black and white photos complement the interesting and well-researched text of this little town with a big history!” Metroland Media (including Toronto.com)

"PRAISE FOR LYTTON: ""Lytton: Climate Change, Colonialism and Life Before the Fire by Peter Edwards and Kevin Loring is both a sobering history and terrifying glimpse into the future."" Gregor Craigie, author of Our Crumbling Foundation"

"PRAISE FOR LYTTON: ""Lytton: Climate Change, Colonialism and Life Before the Fire by Peter Edwards and Kevin Loring is both a sobering history and terrifying glimpse into the future."" Gregor Craigie, author of Our Crumbling Foundation ""[T]he book’s themes...resonate intensely.... Including personal stories and interviews makes the analysis more relatable and engaging. These narratives add depth and emotional resonance,... This urgent call to action should instill a sense of responsibility and motivation in the readers.... Effectively illuminates the critical issues facing Lytton and similar communities. It is a compelling read for anyone interested in the ongoing dialogue about climate change, colonialism, and community resilience. I highly recommend the book to understand the significance of this event."" The British Columbia Review “A town with a fascinating history...effectively told by former residents Kevin Loring, an award-winning playwright, and Peter Edwards, a true-crime author.... Black and white photos complement the interesting and well-researched text of this little town with a big history!” Metroland Media (including Toronto.com)"

Author Information

PETER EDWARDS is the organized-crime beat reporter for the Toronto Star and the bestselling author of seventeen non-fiction books and one young adult novel. His works have been published in four languages. Edwards is a member of Top Left Entertainment, a production development company, and an executive producer for the Citytv series Bad Blood, created by New Metric Media and aired on Netflix. His book One Dead Indian: The Premier, the Police and the Ipperwash Crisis was made into the Gemini Award–winning movie One Dead Indian by Sienna Films that aired on CTV. Edwards was awarded an eagle feather from the Union of Ontario Indians and a gold medal from the Centre for Human Rights. His book Delusion (published in Europe as The Infiltrator) is on the CIA’s recommended reading list for staff and agents. KEVIN LORING is a Governor General’s Award-winning playwright, an actor, a director and the founding Artistic Director of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre of Canada. He is also the Artistic Director of Savage Society, a not-for-profit production company. His three published works are: Where the Blood Mixes, Thanks for Giving and Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer. He comes from the Loring family from Botanie Valley and the Adams of Snake Flat. He is a Nlaka’pamux of Lytton First Nation.

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