On Stony Ground

"""After making his scholarly mark a generation ago as the expert on Mennonite life in the Russian Empire, James Urry now lends his keen anthropological eye to a microanalysis of a single village: Grunthal, Manitoba. Here, as always, he boldly exposes the rich internal social dynamics of different socioeconomic classes, competing faith persuasions, and distinctive settler groups within a Mennonite population.""--Royden Loewen, Senior Scholar, University of Winnipeg ""Based on decades of research, this ethnographic study of one small prairie community fills a gap in understanding the settlement experience of Russl�nder Mennonites. Once again, James Urry demonstrates his detailed and masterful use of multiple sources to analyse the many dimensions of an immigrant community in Canada - their economic challenges, political affinities, cultural contributions, institutional differences, and integration struggles. Urry does not flinch from describing the foibles of the Russl�nders in equal balance to their strengths, revealing them to be simultaneously colourful and plain.""--Marlene Epp, Professor Emeritus of History, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo ""Urry paints a rich portrait of a Canadian Mennonite village's entanglement with the national and global processes that defined Canada's twentieth century. On Stony Ground transcends the realm of local history to show how a quintessential Russl�nder Mennonite community was entangled with Canada's dynamic twentieth century. On Stony Ground is a deeply researched book with a firm sense of place.""--John P.R. Eicher, Associate Professor of History, Pennsylvania State University-Altoona"