Blood and Sweat over the Railway Tracks: Chinese labourers constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway (1880-1885) (2014)
 
This is a recollection of an important historical event, the Canadian Pacific Railway construction which employed thousands of Chinese labourers to build the transcontinental railway linking this country from coast to coast. In her writing, Chow reveals the reasons for constructing the railway, why and how the Chinese labourers were recruited and transported from Guangdong to various construction sites in British Columbia. She illustrates the difficult and dangerous tasks that the Chinese labourers had to perform bearing testimonies to the challenges, hardships, struggles, and endurance of these workers. Despite the hard labour, these men displayed excellent work ethic, and were diligent and dependable people. Included are some poems and verses by a several Chinese labourers and their family members to show their anguish, anxiety, and longing - human feelings and emotions that had been repressed. This book is a testament to remarkable endeavour, generous spirit, sacrifices and contributions of the Chinese labourers that helped build the CPR. 
 
Author: Lily Siewsan Chow
Publisher: Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC 
 
Dimension: 9 x 6 inch