"It has been a peculiar pleasure to spend these past months recalling scenes and events connected with the St. John River. I have realized anew how much the river is a part of me and how fortunate I am to have known it in the bygone era of the canoe, the river steamer, and the log drive. Although one kind friend thought the previous book, The Saint John River, published by McClelland and Stewart in 1949, "just perfect", and although Hugh Maclennan made very considerable use of it for his chapter on the St. John iver, I was not satisfied with it and have rewritten the entire book. Much has happened on the river meanwhile. Also, in connection with my researches on the Loyalists and on the Steeves family history and genealogy, I have delved further into various types of records and have visited and revisited many parts of the river. I have made a special effort to get the book out in 1966 for those who wish, as part of the Centennial celebration, to extend their acquaintance with Canada. After publication of the previous book, a comment I particularly valued came from British Columbia: "Thank you for making New Brunswick history come alive." I hope this book will be able to make both the history and geography of New Brunswick come alive."