The Villages Within: An Irreverent History of Toronto and a Respectful Guide to the St. Andrew's Market, the Kings West District, the Kensington Market, and Queen Street West

The Villages Within is an irreverent version of Toronto’s past that will not improve anyone’s knowledge of history, but its fabrications and exaggerations may provide an amusing insight into the lives of those who built the town of York. It is an exposé of historical untruths, a book that no school should ever permit its students to read.

Discover Lord Dorchester’s unusual method of staying warm while his underwear froze during his first winter in Canada. Learn about Elizabeth Simcoe’s struggle with the intoxicating evils of gooseberry wine. During the War of 1812, why did Laura Secord deliver a cow to James Fitzgibbon in the dead of night? Why did the residents of York fear an American invasion in 1813, even though they needed their dollars to support the town’s tourist industry? Why did the colonists, who never bathed at the best of times, become truly revolting in 1837?

In a more serious vein, this book chronicles the history and architecture of the Kings West District, the Kensington Market, and the proudly “tacky” Queen Street West. The narrative details the events in the life of the old St. Andrew’s Market, allowing those who visit the area today to appreciate its rich heritage.