Bonavista tells the story of a town, Bonavista, located along the eastern shoreline of Newfoundland. The book begins with a description of the natural history of the area: the geological, oceanic, and atmospheric forces which define the opportunities and challenges of Bonavista's inhabitants. It continues with visitation and habitation of the region: first by indigenous peoples and then by Europeans. The Bonavista settlement began to take hold in the 1600s, initially from people of southern England, mostly, and thereafter by men and women of Ireland. In the process of earning a living from the sea through the 1700s and 1800s, the town grew into prominence as one of the major fishing hubs of Newfoundland. Religion, education, and mercantilism all played a role as Bonavista transformed itself through the centuries. Even war between the French and English found itself on Bonavista's shores. Growth continued through the 1900s, culminating in the cod moratorium of 1992 and the emergence of tourism. Today, Bonavista continues to play a vibrant role as Newfoundland and Labrador establishes its place in the twenty-first century.