The Imperialist

The Imperialist follows Lorne Murchison, a young man in the fictional town of Elgin, Ontario, who champions stronger imperial ties with Britain amid debates over Canada's economic and political future.

Through Lorne's failed political ambitions, his secret engagement, and his sister Advena's romance, the novel ironically portrays the paradoxes of nationhood, compromise, and personal aspirations in a changing society.

Published in 1904, it captures the spirit of an emergent Canada grappling with colonial legacies.