The essence of the Champlain Society for over a century has been that by having a membership you assist in the publication of edited volumes of essential documentary collections from Canadian history. In exchange you get a copy of the new volume each year. Nowadays they do various other things too, as documented on their website. Notable: the Witness to Yesterday podcast, which must do more interviews on historians of Canada and their new books than everybody else combined.
Anyway, this year's members' book is a big one. Even physically big: two big hardcovers in a boxed set. But significance-big as well. In 19th century Canadian literature as well as in exploration history, David Thompson's Travels and other writings have been reckoned as essential reading. And since I've never done much more than dip into them for an anecdote or two, I may actually read widely in this year's volume (not always the case, I confess). Here are the blurbs for Volume One, edited and introduced by John Warkentin (geographer and longtime pillar of the society) and William Moreau, and for Volume Two (by Moreau).
Sometimes Society books are published commercially as well. Not this one I think, but from the links non-members can order individual copies through University of Toronto Press, the publishing partner for all the Society books.
Book notes here on recent and interesting works on Canadian history have been a bit scarce lately. Got some catching up to, mebbe.
