In September 1996, the bi-centenary of Thomas Chandler Haliburton's birth was marked with a symposium in his honour at Acadia University, in Wolfville, NS. The papers presented at that conference and collected in this volume illuminate the life of Canada's first internationally renowned writer, critically engaging the man, his works and his era. The creator of Sam Slick, Haliburton left a legacy of memorable writing. Two hundred years later, his signature works such as The Clockmaker and The Old Judge still excite critical debate. These essays investigate Haliburton in various contexts, drawing on our curiosity about the man and the world in which he lived. Contributors include Gerald C. Boudreau, Colin Boyd, Barry Cahill, George Elliott Clarke, Gwendolyn Davies, Richard A. Davies, Naomi Griffiths, Carrie MacMillan, Greg Marquis, Peter Mitham, Barry Moody, Ruth Panofsky, George L. Parker, Allen Penney, Henry Roper, David Staines and Tom Vincent.