The National Dream (book)

The National Dream is a historical novel by Canadian author Pierre Berton, published in 1970. It tells the story of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in the late 19th century.

The book focuses on the political maneuvering, financial dealings, and engineering challenges involved in building the railway, which was seen as essential for uniting Canada and preventing its absorption by the United States. Berton highlights the key figures involved, including politicians like Sir John A. Macdonald and financiers such as Donald Smith (later Lord Strathcona), as well as the thousands of laborers, many of whom were Chinese immigrants, who endured harsh conditions to complete the project.

The National Dream is known for its engaging narrative style and its ability to bring Canadian history to life for a broad audience. It became a bestseller and helped to shape popular understanding of the CPR's significance in Canadian history. The book was subsequently adapted into a television miniseries of the same name. Its sequel, The Last Spike, published in 1971, continues the story to the railway's completion.