Plucked from obscurity and handed a destiny - this was the life of John Walsh (1830-1898), an Irish immigrant to Toronto who became the true founder of the diocese of London, Ontario. As he repaired the damage done by his predecessor, Pierre-Adolphe Pinsoneault, Walsh used his persuasive powers and talent for teaching to ensure that the diocese would prosper. Biographer John Comiskey illustrates Walsh's struggle to build up his diocese while promoting Catholics for positions of influence in society. Walsh's life unfolded in nineteenth-century Ontario, a period filled with hopes for growth and...