Shipwreck and arrest were common setbacks in the early nineteenth century, but neither slowed the rise of scientist and inventor Abraham Gesner (1797–1864). He possessed a curious mind and a dynamic speaking style, enlivened by his many fact-finding travels throughout the Maritime provinces and beyond. Of his innovative experiments, the most famous led to a refining method for a new fuel named kerosene, an invention that would change the world.

This biography depicts a man far ahead of his time, as interested in social problems—such as lighting cities at night and establishing decent immigrant settlements—as he was in advancing science and industry. A fascinating and meticulously research account of a man too often not given the credit he deserved.

Allison Mitcham has had her prose and poetry published in many Canadian and American publications. As well she is the author of 18 books. The focus of 8 of these is Atlantic Canada where she has lived for 37 years. After 20 years of teaching literature at the University of Moncton, she retired in 1988 to write full time. In 1992 she was awarded the title of professor emeritus by the University of Moncton. In 1994, Allison Mitcham received British Columbia's Lieutentant Governor's medal and the British Columbia Historical Federation's prize for Taku, the Heart of North America's Last Great Wilderness.

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