This novel is based on the true story of a young Scot, William Buchanan, who leaves home in 1784 to find his fortune in the vast wilderness of Canada. Settling first in Nova Scotia, loneliness eventually pushes him to the very edge of civilization in Essex County. Here, fortune finally smiles when he meets Elizabeth Quick. After an awkward start, the two fall in love, marry and raise six beautiful children. But their happiness is brutally threatened when the Americans declare war in 1812. NOTE: This is the second edition of "The Diary" and many entries have been modified to reflect newly discovered information. As a result, much of the remaining text, including the appendices, has also been revised.