The Fault Lines of Empire is a fascinating comparative study of two communities in the early modern British Empire--one in Massachusetts, the other in Nova Scotia. Elizabeth Mancke focuses on these two locations to examine how British attempts at reforming their empire impacted the development of divergent political customs in the United States and Canada.

This book is primarily concerned with describing and attempting to account for, first, the continuing economic hammerlock Massachusetts had during most of the period from 1630 to 1784 over the neighbouring colony and, second, the various military thrusts sent from New England to the region to the northeast.

At 9:06 in the morning of December 6, 1917 in the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia two ships collided. Minutes later there was an apocalyptic explosion followed by a blizzard of flying glass, splintered wood and white hot metal falling from the sky. In an instant almost 2,000 people lay dead and another 9,000 wounded and thousands left homeless. This set in motion the greatest rescue mission ever known at the time between the United States and Canada. Within hours, without authority or hesitation the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts pulled together all their medical resources and went to the aid of Halifax. This is the story of unprecedented compassion, mercy, and heroism. It speaks of the eternal friendship and helping hands across the border between the State of Massachusetts and the people of Nova Scotia. This humanitarian rescue mission was never forgotten. Every year a special thank you gift is sent to Boston from the people of Nova Scotia. This gift symbolizes peace on earth, hope and light in the darkness..... a giant fifty foot Christmas tree!