Through a compelling and detailed examination of the lives and work of William Carptenter and Charlotte Selina Bompas, The Spiritual Borderlands reconsiders cultural and spiritual transformations of the Canadian northwest during a period of rapid change. William Bompas is a well-known figure in northern history – Petrakos is the first to give serious analysis to his eccentricities and efforts among Indigenous nations balanced with long-overdue recognition of Charlotte Selina's contributions to missionary work. Examining northern societies from the ground up, this study foregrounds the contested nature of religious, spiritual, and cultural change in remote colonial settings.

Heather Green, Saint Mary's University

The lives of William Carpenter and Charlotte Bompas have received relatively little scholarly attention, despite their tremendous impact on the Canadian North. The Spiritual Borderlands at the Edge of Empire is a very welcome contribution to this underexamined history. Christopher Petrakos skillfully situates the missionary work of William Carpenter Bompas, who was often cast as an excentric recluse, within his broader theological mindset. To this end, Petrakos contributes a sophisticated understanding of William's missions. Moreover, quite often historians lose sight of Charlotte in the shadow of William. However, Petrakos provides thoughtful analysis of Charlotte and how she viewed her place in both Victorian and northern society based on her writings.

Glenn Iceton, University of New Brunswick (Saint John)