This book tells the fascinating story of Sir William Alexander and the almost-forgotten origins of the province of Nova Scotia. Alexander conceived and named New Scotland (which became "Nova Scotia" in the more fashionable Latin) as a counterpart to New England.

In 1629, a group of Scottish settlers led by Alexander's son built a settlement, Charlesfort, at the site of present-day Annapolis Royal, where they found a land that yielded good crops. Historians found little in the written record about Charlesfort, and there was even uncertainty about its location. Recent discoveries have illuminated much about the settlement, and an archaeological dig at Annapolis has confirmed its exact location.

The First Nova Scotian tells the story of William Alexander and Charlesfort, offering intriguing speculations about the role Nova Scotia played in early-seventeenth century European affairs.

MARK FINNAN is a writer an actor. Born in Ireland, he worked in central Canada and the U.S. before settling in Nova Scotia. He was the organiser of the first-ever conference on Oak Island.

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