Book excerpt: Nova Scotia juts out from the North American continental mass as if it has been intended to be the point of approach or departure for all traveling on the North Trans-Atlantic sea lanes. Guysborough County is the very pinhead. The widely flaring mouth of Chedabucto Bay stands open as if to welcome travelers. Throughout history, a variety of people have accepted the invitation. And in Guysborough Sketches and Essays author A.C. Jost talks about these people and has compiled a collection of essays detailing the background of Guysborough County. A group of interlinking articles, this collection of essays and genealogies of the original Loyalist settlers has been regarded as the most authoritative account of the history of this area. An invaluable source of information about local lore, Guysborough Sketches and Essays recalls many noteworthy events including the county's early turbulent past, the tragedy and drama of three shipwrecks in three years beginning in 1780, and the discovery of gold in Wine Harbour in 1860. With maps and drawings, this history book is a valuable resource for those conducting genealogy research and for those seeking stories about this treasure in northern Canada.