Picture this: It's 1771. A small ship called the Harmony sets sail from England, carrying not soldiers or merchants, but a group of everyday people—families, craftsmen, and ministers—from the Moravian Church. Their goal? To reach the remote coast of Labrador and build a settlement and mission called Nain among the Inuit people. Benjamin La Trobe, their leader, kept a detailed journal of this two-year journey, and that's what you're holding.

The Story

The book follows the mission from its hopeful, prayerful beginnings in Europe straight into the grinding reality of the North Atlantic. La Trobe doesn't sugarcoat things. We feel the misery of seasickness, the terror of pack ice threatening to crush their ship, and the sheer exhaustion of landing in a barren, rocky place as winter closes in. The plot is the daily life of survival: building shelters from nothing, learning to source food in a hostile environment, and navigating a completely new relationship with the local Inuit, who are justifiably wary of these newcomers. There's no single villain; the antagonists are hunger, cold, isolation, and the constant, gnawing question of whether this whole audacious project is even possible.

Why You Should Read It

What makes this old journal feel so fresh is La Trobe's voice. He's not a flawless hero. He writes about his moments of fear and frustration, his worries for the children in their care, and the cultural misunderstandings that inevitably happen. You get a real sense of the people—not just the Moravians, but glimpses of the Inuit individuals they meet, who are curious, sometimes helpful, and always their own people. The book is less about preaching and more about the messy, human work of building bridges. It’s a powerful reminder that history is made by ordinary people doing extraordinary, difficult things, one cold, hard day at a time.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys immersive historical diaries, like those of Samuel Pepys, but with a wilderness adventure twist. It's for readers interested in early Canadian history, faith in action, or simply incredible true survival stories. If you find standard history books a bit dry, La Trobe's personal, grounded, and often anxious account will pull you right onto the rocky shores of Labrador with him. A fascinating, humbling, and deeply human look at a forgotten chapter of exploration.