readers. The opening of the book details the legendary early exploration of Canada, beginning with the Viking voyages led by Leif Erikson around the year 1000. Laut vividly paints the picture of these Norse adventurers encountering the New World, as well as later expeditions by figures like John Cabot and Jacques Cartier. She emphasizes the rugged nature of the land and the interactions between explorers and Indigenous peoples, setting the stage for Canada's rich tapestry of cultures and events that led to its emergence as a nation. This historical groundwork highlights the early hopes, challenges, and ambitions that characterized the birth of Canada as we know it today. (This is an automatically generated summary.)