Super Short Summary

Rise Again! by Robert J. Morgan provides a comprehensive history of Cape Breton Island, tracing its timeline from the settlement by indigenous Mi'kmaq people around 7,000 BCE to the present. The narrative explores early European exploration, the establishment and fate of colonial settlements, conflicts during the French and Indian War, and the cultural mingling of Irish, Scottish, and French populations. The island's significance during the American Revolution, its merging with Nova Scotia in 1820, and its industrial boom in coal mining and shipbuilding are detailed. The book also highlights the contributions of inventors Alexander Graham Bell and Guglielmo Marconi. Labor disputes in the 1920s, including the murder of coal miner William Davis, are poignantly examined, illustrating broader North American trends. The work incorporates major historical and cultural shifts viewed through the microcosm of Cape Breton Island. The book addresses themes such as violence against workers and the loss of loved ones.