She argues that nationalism is not one idea but a "relationship of voices, speaking from varying levels of political and social power, and to varying audiences." The Italian understanding of what it means to belong to Canada does not require the abandonment of ethnic identity but instead demonstrates the ways in which layers of identity intersect. Wood introduces the more spatial concept of "relocation" and emphasizes the complex and negotiated nature of immigrant identities. She highlights the immigrants' roles as active participants in the creation of their own local, regional, and national spaces, underlining the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to immigrant history. Highlighting the "marginalized" status of these immigrants - as Southern Europeans, Catholics, and residents of western Canada - Wood brings their voice to the centre and shows them to be agents in the production of their identities.

York University

Patricia K. Wood's profile page

"An important contribution to research. By examining life histories in an everyday environment we get a clearer picture as to the process that all immigrants must undergo. Wood's results emphasize the importance of self agency and the limits to which any official policy can go to bring about assimilation or integration." Herman Ganzevoort, Department of History, University of Calgary "An ambitious book. Drawing in several scholarly sources, Wood weaves a narrative of epic proportions, presents new scholarship on the Italian-Canadian experience in western Canada, and provides an original regional perspective." Tamara Palmer Seiler, Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary