History. It is around us all the time, affecting the way we spend our ordinary days, shaping the headlines, and influencing the future. History is not static, an abstract concept locked away inside the pages old dusty books, of interest only to buffs and experts. No, history matters, which we are so pleased to be demonstrating over the coming months with our new editorial series: "Talking History." 

This new biweekly series will be promoted through 49th Shelf, building on our listings of more than 70,000 Canadian books, and it is made possible through a special funding grant from the Department of Canadian Heritage. "Talking History" will focus on a wide range of topics in Canadian history, exploring the notion of history as a compelling form of storytelling of interest to large audiences. Articles by Canada's foremost historians and history experts will use the power of narrative to bring the past to life, drawing connections between then and now to show how these stories are not just relevant, but essential to our understanding of Canada and the world in 2014. 

It starts Friday. It's going to be great.