On Stony Ground: Russländer Mennonites and the Rebuilding of Community in Grunthal

“After making his scholarly mark a generation ago as the expert on Mennonite life in the Russian Empire, James Urry now lends his keen anthropological eye to a microanalysis of a single village: Grunthal, Manitoba. Here, as always, he boldly exposes the rich internal social dynamics of different socioeconomic classes, competing faith persuasions, and distinctive settler groups within a Mennonite population.” Royden Loewen, Senior Scholar, University of Winnipeg

“Based on decades of research, this ethnographic study of one small prairie community fills a gap in understanding the settlement experience of Russländer Mennonites. Once again, James Urry demonstrates his detailed and masterful use of multiple sources to analyse the many dimensions of an immigrant community in Canada – their economic challenges, political affinities, cultural contributions, institutional differences, and integration struggles. Urry does not flinch from describing the foibles of the Russländers in equal balance to their strengths, revealing them to be simultaneously colourful and plain.” Marlene Epp, Professor Emeritus of History, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo

“Urry paints a rich portrait of a Canadian Mennonite village’s entanglement with the national and global processes that defined Canada’s twentieth century. On Stony Ground transcends the realm of local history to show how a quintessential Russländer Mennonite community was entangled with Canada’s dynamic twentieth century. On Stony Ground is a deeply researched book with a firm sense of place.” John P.R. Eicher, Associate Professor of History, Pennsylvania State University-Altoona